Sony Limits PS5 Pro Sales in Japan to Players with 60+ Hours Gameplay
Sony is restricting PS5 Pro purchases in Japan to registered PSN users who have played at least 60 hours of PS5 or PS4 games over the past two years, a measure designed to prevent scalpers from acquiring the ¥137,980 console.
Sony is combating scalper demand for the PS5 Pro in Japan by implementing a gameplay requirement for eligible buyers. Gamers must have a PSN account registered in Japan and have played at least 60 hours of PS5 or PS4 games between 27 September 2024 and 27 September 2026 to qualify for a purchase ticket through the Sony Store.
The console costs ¥137,980, approximately $877. Applications opened on 28 September and will remain open until 7 October, with the sales period commencing on 26 October. Successful applicants will have until 2 November to complete their purchase.
Sony warns that if the number of applicants exceeds available supply, a lottery will determine who can buy. The platform holder announced the restriction via its official Japanese PlayStation account on Twitter.
The PS5 Pro is experiencing high demand worldwide, partly driven by anticipation for Grand Theft Auto 6's release. While PS5 sales have been modest in Japan recently, this approach prioritizes active players over scalpers seeking to resell hardware at inflated prices. The measure reflects broader industry concerns about hardware availability as console prices continue rising globally.
Sources
- Push SquareEstablished publication · recorded Sep 28, 2026Sony Fighting PS5 Pro Scalpers in Japan with 60 Hour Gameplay Requirement
- GamesRadar+Secondary publication · recorded Sep 28, 2026Amid PS5 Pro shortage, Sony implements a lottery system in Japan that requires 60 hours of playtime
- EurogamerEstablished publication · recorded Sep 29, 2026Sony is introducing an anti-scalping lottery system for PS5 Pros in Japan as supply shortages persist
- GameSpotEstablished publication · recorded Sep 29, 2026Sony Makes Japanese Players Prove They’re Gamers To Get A PS5 Pro
- Insider GamingEstablished publication · recorded Sep 29, 2026Japan’s PS5 Pro Shortage Has Forced a ‘Lottery System’ To Surface
- GamesRadar+Secondary publication · recorded Sep 29, 2026For the first time in 60 years, Sony will skip the huge convention it once used to reveal the PS5 logo