Sony Japan has introduced a lottery system for the purchase of PlayStation 5 Pro consoles, requiring prospective buyers to demonstrate at least 60 hours of gameplay on PS4 or PS5 hardware. This measure comes amidst ongoing shortages of the console in Japan, significantly driven by anticipation for the upcoming release of Grand Theft Auto 6.
Playtime Requirement to Combat Scalpers
To be eligible for the lottery, applicants must use a PlayStation Network account registered in Japan, linked to a My Sony ID. Crucially, this account must show a total of 60 hours of gameplay across PS4 and/or PS5 between September 27, 2024, and September 27, 2026, as reported by ExtremeTech. Each eligible account can request only one PS5 Pro console.
Sony’s objective with this system is to deter scalpers, who often create multiple accounts to buy up stock for resale at inflated prices, and instead prioritise active players on the platform. The PS5 Pro has been experiencing high demand that exceeds available stock, with memory and component shortages contributing to the tight supply, according to ExtremeTech.
Application Process and Cost
The application period for the lottery commenced on September 28 and will run until October 7, exclusively through the Sony Store. Successful applicants will be notified via email starting October 26 and must complete their payment by November 2. Should a winner miss this deadline, Sony reserves the right to reassign their console allocation to other applicants later in the year.
The console is priced at ¥137,980 yen in Japan, which equates to approximately $877 USD at the time of reporting. While this system is specifically for Japan, Kotaku notes that lottery systems for gaming hardware are not new to Japan, citing similar requirements for the Nintendo Switch 2 launch there.
Demand Surge Ahead of Grand Theft Auto 6
The significant surge in demand for the PS5 Pro is largely attributed to the impending launch of Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6) in November. Players who have yet to upgrade to current-generation hardware are reportedly rushing to purchase new consoles ahead of the game’s release, pushing already strained supply chains to a critical point, according to Kotaku. Sony has been marketing optimisations exclusive to the PS5 Pro for the new GTA game, further fuelling interest.
Despite PlayStation console sales generally lagging behind Nintendo in Japan in recent years, this anticipated release appears to have sparked a particular interest in the PS5 Pro. Standard PS5 models remain in stock, suggesting the demand is specifically for the enhanced Pro version.