Retailers are halting pre-orders of the new PlayStation 4, prompting fears of a shortage at Christmas, The Belfast Telegraph reports.

August 6 was the deadline Sony placed on pre-orders being guaranteed on the release date. After that date, all pre-orders aren't guaranteed upon the console's release.

The official release date of the Playstation 4 is targeted for November as Sony hopes to capitalize on the highly lucrative holiday season, BostInno reports.

Speculation surrounding the next-generation console's official release date has been swaying around a November availability date, but others say December might be a more likely release month.

Despite many rumours suggesting Sony's PlayStation 4 console would get a November release, retailer GameStop has put a spanner in the works for all UK gamers hoping to find one sitting beneath their Christmas tree this December, the International Business Times writes.

Those pre-ordering the next-gen console through the retailer's website won't find a release date on the pre-order main page, but as soon as you proceed through to the transaction process, the release date of 29 December can be seen within the product summary in the buyer's shopping cart section, the International Business Times also writes.