Sony's PlayStation 5 hits market ready for battle with latest Xbox

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 due to the COVID-19 pandemic that has driven a boom in gaming demand.

An employee prepares the new Sony PlayStation 5 gaming console for a customer on the first day of its launch, at an electronics shop in Kawasaki, Japan.

Sony has made launch sales online only to maintain social distancing, calling for consumers to "be safe, stay home, and place your order online". | A sign announcing that the new Sony PlayStation 5 gaming console will not be sold by over-the-counter sales.

An employee prepares the new Sony PlayStation 5 gaming console for a customer on the first day of its launch.

The next-generation console, which retails for $500 or $400 without a disk-drive, was sold out on major retailing sites in Japan with some conducting lotteries to distribute limited stock.

With pre-orders pointing to a record launch, market leader Sony is counting on big-ticket exclusive games like 'Spider-Man: Miles Morales' to keep the edge over its US challenger.

While the new Xbox hit shelves worldwide on Tuesday, the PS5 is available from Thursday in Australia, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, North America and South Korea, but gamers elsewhere will have to wait until November 19.

A customer buys the new Sony PlayStation 5 gaming console on the first day of its launch.

The consoles go on sale with the pandemic creating a massive spike in demand for gaming from people stuck at home and looking for a distraction or a way to pass the time.

Analysts see shortages of consoles from Sony and rival Microsoft Corp, which launched Xbox devices on Tuesday, extending into 2021.