Published 12 November 2026
Sony's latest results suggest new PS5 consoles will stay hard to find for a while yet. If yours develops a fault this winter, a repair may well be quicker than waiting for stock. Here is what was reported, and what it means if you own a PS5 in the UK.
What Sony reported
Sony published its results for July to September 2026 on 5 November. According to Gematsu (5 November 2026), Sony shipped 2.6 million PS5 consoles in those three months, fewer than in the same period last year, taking lifetime shipments to 97.9 million. Engadget (5 November 2026) said the fall was likely down to supply rather than demand, pointing to the memory chip shortage and tariffs that have pushed console prices up this year.
Engadget also reported that Sony had told distribution partners that "temporary market supply constraints and high demand" would keep limiting retailers' console stock until next year. This came from Sony's message to the trade, not a public announcement, so take it as a strong signal rather than a promise. It lands just as Grand Theft Auto VI comes out on 19 November, which is likely to push demand for consoles up even further.
What this means if you already own a PS5
For most owners nothing changes day to day. Your console, games and saves are unaffected. The practical point is what you do if something goes wrong. When new consoles are discounted and easy to find, replacing a faulty one can seem the simplest option. When stock is short and prices are high, it is worth finding out what is actually wrong before you decide. Many common PS5 faults are repairable, and the repair keeps your own console, its storage and its settings.
Faults that are usually worth having looked at include:
- No picture or "no signal" on a TV that works with other devices, often a damaged HDMI port after the console has been moved or the cable pulled at an angle.
- Overheating warnings, a loud fan or sudden shutdowns, often caused by dust or poor airflow. Our guide to PS5 overheating and a loud fan covers the safe checks you can do first.
- A disc drive that won't take, read or eject discs.
- Controller stick drift or a worn USB-C charging port on the DualSense, which can be fixed through PlayStation controller repair rather than buying a new pad.
- Power faults, where the console won't turn on, beeps and switches off, or the light behaves oddly.
Not every fault is worth fixing, and an honest diagnosis should tell you that too. The point is to get the facts before spending money on a replacement that may be hard to find.
Buying a second-hand PS5 while stock is short
Short supply tends to send people to the second-hand market, and that is where problems hide. If you are buying a used PS5, try to see it working and check:
- It boots to the home screen, shows a picture straight away and the HDMI cable sits firmly in the port without wobbling.
- The disc drive (if it has one) takes, plays and ejects a disc.
- The fan stays reasonably quiet while a game is running for a few minutes.
- The controller works in a game with no drift and charges over USB-C.
- The seller has signed out of their account and fully reset the console, and nothing suggests it runs modified or jailbroken system software, which can stop it receiving updates or getting online.
Be wary of a console sold "untested" or "for parts" at close to the price of a working one, and of any seller who won't let you see it switched on.
Protect your saves before any repair
If your PS5 is still working but showing signs of trouble, back up now. PlayStation Plus members can sync saves to cloud storage, and anyone can copy saves to a USB drive from the console's settings. That way, whatever happens to the hardware, your progress is safe. Read more about our PS5 repairs in London, including the standard, Slim and Pro models.
Get your PS5 checked in London
If your PS5 is playing up, bring it to Creative IT Console Repairs at 80 Willow Walk, London SE1 5SY. You can walk in Monday to Saturday, 9am to 6pm, with no appointment needed, or call 020 7237 6805. We diagnose the fault first and agree the price with you before any work starts, and repairs come with a 90-day warranty. You can also contact us with any questions first.