Sony implements a ‘gamers only’ lottery system for buying a PlayStation 5 in Japan

TL;DR: Sony’s Japan lottery for scarce PlayStation 5 Pro consoles requires applicants to have logged at least 60 hours of play on a Sony account between September 2024 and September 2026, aiming to curb scalping and prioritize existing gamers. Selected buyers can purchase at MSRP by November 2; applications close October 7.
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The PlayStation 5 Pro console is reportedly selling out in Japan, and with limited stock due to the current DRAM crisis and hype for the upcoming release of Grand Theft Auto 6, Sony is implementing a lottery system for those looking to pick up a console. The lottery is designed to separate gamers from non-gamers because participants must have at least 60 hours of playtime logged on their Sony accounts since 2024.

This measure is reportedly intended to reduce the number of scalpers buying up PlayStation 5 Pro consoles and reselling them at higher prices due to shortages. The announcement confirms that the 60 hours of playtime cover two years, from September 27, 2024, to September 27, 2026, so those looking to pick up a PS5 Pro in Japan will need to be an existing PS4 or PS5 gamer.

The lottery system will ensure they can pick up a console at its current MSRP. That said, the official announcement (translated) states that Sony will handle selecting “winners” and the “subsequent purchase” starting on October 26. Winners will have until November 2 to purchase their PlayStation 5 Pro consoles directly from Sony; otherwise, the console will go back into the draw for the next round of PS5 Pro lottery sales.

• Read more: PS5 Pro out of stock as GTA 6 catapults console demand
• Read more: PlayStation 5 PC emulation keeps accelerating, Marvel’s Wolverine now boots into the game
• Read more: Microsoft disputes claims that GTA 6 pre-orders on PS5 are out-selling Xbox 8-to-1

Community feedback on the announcement has actually been met with some praise. Setting aside the fact that Sony is seemingly unable to produce enough PS5 Pro consoles to meet the demand, the lottery system is one that many believe should have been implemented at the time of the PlayStation 5’s launch. With the PS5 launching in a post-pandemic world beset by tech shortages that weren’t AI-related, these shortages led to widespread scalping, with consoles making their way to second-hand markets with inflated pricing.

A lottery system like this, one that prioritizes existing customers and the PlayStation community first, makes sense when there are only so many consoles to go around. In fact, many are calling on Sony to implement a similar system for the PlayStation 6 launch, which is rumored to arrive as early as late 2027, when the current DRAM crisis is expected to still be in full swing.

How does Sony verify the 60 hours of PS4 or PS5 gameplay required for Japan’s PS5 Pro lottery?

Sony uses playtime logged on participants’ Sony accounts to check whether they have at least 60 hours of PS4 or PS5 gameplay between September 27, 2024, and September 27, 2026. The specific verification process is not described.

Who can apply for Sony’s PS5 Pro lottery in Japan, and are Japanese account or residency requirements part of eligibility?

Existing PS4 or PS5 gamers can apply for the PS5 Pro lottery in Japan if their Sony accounts show at least 60 hours of playtime between September 27, 2024, and September 27, 2026. The story does not specify a Japanese account or residency requirement.

What purchase limits or other restrictions apply to PS5 Pro lottery winners in Japan?

How has the DRAM shortage affected PS5 Pro production and availability outside Japan?

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As for the lottery covering the PS5 Pro console, as it’s the most powerful and capable console on the market, it will be the premier place to play Grand Theft Auto 6, visually speaking, until the game makes its way to PC sometime in the future. Japanese gamers looking to enter the lottery will need to act fast, as applications close on Wednesday, October 7, at 11:59 PM.