Sony Japan is introducing a lottery system for PS5 Pro orders through its Sony Store, with strict eligibility rules aimed at filtering out resellers. Applicants must hold a Japanese PSN account and have logged at least 60 hours of play on a PS4 or PS5 between September 27, 2024 and September 27, 2026. The application window opens October 7, and sales to selected ticket holders begin October 26; if applications outstrip supply, winners are chosen by lottery and have until November 2 to complete their purchase at MSRP.
The move comes as the PS5 Pro, launched in November 2024, faces renewed demand and supply pressure. Prices have climbed several times this year as components are diverted to AI data centers, and demand is reportedly rising again ahead of Rockstar's GTA 6. Japanese gamers have previously complained about foreign tourists buying up scarce hardware such as Nvidia's RTX 5090, which makes the domestic-account requirement and playtime threshold a logical attempt to steer consoles toward actual players rather than scalpers.