Sony PS5 sold out online as pandemic chills real-world retailing

The logos of Sony PlayStation 5 are seen on the packaging of its gaming software at the consumer electronics retailer chain Bic Camera in Tokyo, Japan, November 10, 2020. REUTERS/Issei Kato

TOKYO: Sony Corp's PlayStation 5 (PS5) console launched in core markets on Thursday to intense interest online, but with first day real-world sales limited to pre-order pick-ups.

The COVID-19 pandemic has driven a boom in gaming demand, but Sony has made the launch sale online only to maintain social distancing, calling for consumers to "be safe, stay home, and place your order online." The next-generation console, which retails for $500, or $400 without a disk-drive, was sold out on major retailing sites in Japan and the United States, with some conducting lotteries to distribute limited stock.