Amazon has had to split pre-orders for the PlayStation 4, telling customers that it may not meet all the launch-day demand for the device.
Amazon has put up a second option — a “standard edition” instead of a “launch edition” — for interested shoppers. But the consoles are the same except for the fact that ordering the standard edition comes with no guarantee that users will receive their console on launch day.
“The standard version of the PlayStation 4 is identical to the Launch Edition,” reads a note on Amazon’s site. “Due to high demand, we cannot guarantee Release-Date Delivery on the standard version of the PlayStation 4. We will deliver the standard version of PlayStation 4 as close to its release date as possible.”
Pre-orders for a launch day shipment of Microsoft’s competing Xbox One console, however, are still available.
The Sony PlayStation 4 starts at $399, while the Xbox One comes in at $499.
It’s not clear how many units Sony and Microsoft may have set aside for their pre-order batches. But the optics certainly work out in Sony’s favor. The Japanese console maker has come out of the Electronic Entertainment Expo with a PR lead over Microsoft that, it appears, may translate to stronger sales as well.
Both devices made for big news out of the gaming conference, more commonly known as E3. The Entertainment Software Association, which hosts the conference, reported Thursday that more than 48,200 game industry journalists, professionals and retailers attended the Los Angeles show this week.
Plans for next year’s show are in the works — gamers should mark their calendars for June 10-12, 2014.
Related stories:
E3 2013: New titles make a big splash after years of sequels
PHOTOS: New games unveiled; Sony sets up battle
Sony moves ahead in the console race
Sign up today to receive #thecircuit, a daily roundup of the latest tech policy news from Washington and how it is shaping business, entertainment and science.
Amazon has put up a second option — a “standard edition” instead of a “launch edition” — for interested shoppers. But the consoles are the same except for the fact that ordering the standard edition comes with no guarantee that users will receive their console on launch day.
“The standard version of the PlayStation 4 is identical to the Launch Edition,” reads a note on Amazon’s site. “Due to high demand, we cannot guarantee Release-Date Delivery on the standard version of the PlayStation 4. We will deliver the standard version of PlayStation 4 as close to its release date as possible.”
Pre-orders for a launch day shipment of Microsoft’s competing Xbox One console, however, are still available.
The Sony PlayStation 4 starts at $399, while the Xbox One comes in at $499.
It’s not clear how many units Sony and Microsoft may have set aside for their pre-order batches. But the optics certainly work out in Sony’s favor. The Japanese console maker has come out of the Electronic Entertainment Expo with a PR lead over Microsoft that, it appears, may translate to stronger sales as well.
Both devices made for big news out of the gaming conference, more commonly known as E3. The Entertainment Software Association, which hosts the conference, reported Thursday that more than 48,200 game industry journalists, professionals and retailers attended the Los Angeles show this week.
Plans for next year’s show are in the works — gamers should mark their calendars for June 10-12, 2014.
Related stories:
E3 2013: New titles make a big splash after years of sequels
PHOTOS: New games unveiled; Sony sets up battle
Sony moves ahead in the console race
Sign up today to receive #thecircuit, a daily roundup of the latest tech policy news from Washington and how it is shaping business, entertainment and science.