Sony’s PlayStation 5 officially launches in China, but consumers fear supplies running out, games may face censorship
- The PlayStation 5 is available for pre-order and launches in mainland China on May 15, six months after its global release
- The launch follows Chinese authorities’ crackdown on smuggled video games and consoles to comply with the government’s strict content regulations
The two versions of the PS5, with and without an Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc drive, retail for 3,899 yuan (US$600) and 3,099 yuan, respectively, according to the company. Pre-orders started on Thursday and the console will be available from May 15, six months behind its launch in other parts of the world, including the US, Japan and Hong Kong, where it officially sells for nearly US$100 less but low stock has kept resale prices much higher.
Part of the reason for the delay is that video games, like other types of content, are subject to strict regulatory scrutiny in China. Genshin Impact, the hugely popular anime role-playing action game developed by Shanghai-based miHoYo, is among the games that will be available on the console at launch. The hit game Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales will also be available, among other titles.
In the four months after the PS5 launched in November, Sony sold 7.8 million consoles, according to its latest earnings report this week. While China is getting the console long after imported PS5s made their way into the country at much higher prices, the timeline matches Sony’s previous promise to launch in the second quarter of this year.
