The PlayStation 5‘s launch in China could become one of the reasons behind a lack of stocks for the rest of the year, as the Chinese market is something to be reckoned with.

Two weeks ago, we discussed the launch of the PlayStation 5 in China. Here’s what we said back then: „Sony announced on Weibo, the Chinese equivalent of Twitter (which is banned there) that the PlayStation 5 will launch in China on May 15. The PlayStation 5 Digital Edition will cost 3099 yuan (479 USD), while the PlayStation 5 Standard Edition‘s price tag is 3899 RMB (603 USD). The DualSense will cost 529 RMB (82 USD), its charge dock will be 229 RMB (35 USD), the Pulse 3D headset is 749 RMB (116 USD), and the HD Camera’s price is 449 RMB (70 USD).

The PlayStation Plus Collection for the Chinese players will be significantly different. It will include the following games: Final Fantasy XV, Gravity Rush 2, Hardcore Mecha, Helldivers: Dive Harder Edition, Horizon Zero Dawn / Horizon Zero Dawn – The Frozen Wilds, Journey, The Last Guardian, LittleBigPlanet 3, Loco Roco Remastered, Ratchet & Clank, Tearaway, WipEout Omega Collection. For the launch window, games such as Sackboy: A Big Adventure, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, and Genshin Impact are planned (and to be officially sold in the country, the Chinese censors have to approve the titles).”

Since then, May 15 has passed, and China, which had a console ban for one and a half decades, has allowed the PlayStation 5 to launch in the country. Sony has opened its wallet, as many of Shanghai’s skyscrapers have picked up the traditional colour of the company, and seeing how this is at the Bund, a historical waterfront area of the city, the price might have been a little too excessive! The videos below were shared by Daniel Ahmad, a senior analyst at Niko Partners.

Seeing how the Chinese gaming industry has generated 11.1 billion dollars in Q1 2020 alone, we can see why Sony was eager to do such a marketing stunt.

Source: TheGamer

Shanghai skyline turns blue to celebrate the launch of the PlayStation 5 in mainland China. pic.twitter.com/BRgXVwCfQF

— Daniel Ahmad (@ZhugeEX) May 16, 2021

Video of the Shanghai Bund from a better angle pic.twitter.com/0lwYJ2OZ6H

— Daniel Ahmad (@ZhugeEX) May 16, 2021