GTA VI hype leaves Iceland short of PlayStation 5 consoles

PlayStation 5 consoles are sold out or nearly sold out at Icelandic retailers as excitement builds for Grand Theft Auto VI, which is due out on Thursday, mbl.is reports.

The game is already the most pre-ordered title on the PlayStation Store. When pre-downloads opened, traffic through Icelandic telecom company Nova’s international gateway reached a record high.

Sales of PlayStation 5 consoles have also risen ahead of the release. In September, sales were up 22% in the United States and more than 30% in the United Kingdom.

Arinbjörn Hauksson, marketing director at electronics retailer ELKO, said demand for the six-year-old console was exceeding supply. He said the shortage may be linked to the global artificial intelligence race and increased demand for memory.

ELKO is currently sold out of PlayStation 5 consoles and expects a new shipment next week. Hauksson said sales were similar to the same period last year, but the retailer would probably have sold more if consoles had been available.