Sony: PS4 camera shortage a result of Twitch popularity and ‘total miscalculation’

The PlayStation Camera supply shortages we're experiencing for the PS4 today are a result of the unexpected popularity of Twitch streaming coupled with "a total miscalculation" by Sony's marketing. Speaking to Polygon, Sony Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida acknowledged the company massively underestimated the demand that Twitch broadcasting from the PS4 would create for the camera.

"It was a total miscalculation by our marketing guys," Yoshida said. Instead of taking Twitch streaming into account, Sony's estimates looked at the launch titles supporting the camera along with sales projections for those games.

"They came up with the initial demand in that conventional way and it was very, very low," he said. "Using the camera to broadcast yourself is much, much more fun they they thought and they didn't quite get it."

Even today, the camera is mostly used for broadcasting purposes as there are still very few PS4 games that actually make use of the peripheral. Earlier this month, Sony noted that in the United States, more than 90 percent of PS4s are "online," meaning gamers are connected and sharing their gameplay experiences with others.  There have been more than 3.6 million live broadcasts using the PS4's Share functionality, with more than 56 million spectate sessions through Twitch and Ustream.

Sony urges PS4 owners to remain patient as they work to fill supply. It doesn't help that retailers like GameStop have started to price gouge. What's more, the PlayStation 4 console will also remain in short supply until at least summer, Sony said.

[Polygon]