Sony is bringing back a lottery for PS5 Pro purchases in Japan as limited stock meets renewed demand. Applicants need a Japan-registered Sony account and at least 60 hours of PS4 or PS5 play during a specified two-year period. If applications exceed available units, selected buyers will get a limited window to purchase at the listed price.
Key takeaways
Sony’s lottery is designed to prioritize established PlayStation users while limiting opportunities for scalpers. It does not guarantee a console: the draw will only be used if eligible applications outnumber the available systems.
- Applicants need a Sony account registered in Japan.
- The account must show at least 60 hours of PS4 and/or PS5 gaming between September 27, 2024, and September 27, 2026.
- Applications are open through October 7; selected buyers will be notified on October 26.
- Winners must complete their purchase by November 2. The PS5 Pro is listed at ¥137,980.
How the lottery works
Sony’s Japan store is accepting purchase applications through October 7. Applicants must have used PlayStation online services with a Japan-registered Sony account, and their qualifying playtime must have been logged by 11:59 p.m. on September 27, 2026. Time played on PS4, PS5, or both counts toward the 60-hour threshold.
If demand exceeds the planned inventory, Sony will select buyers by lottery and notify them on October 26. Selected customers then have until November 2 to pay ¥137,980 for the console. Unclaimed purchase opportunities may be returned to a later drawing.
Shortages revive scalper concerns
The lottery follows reports of PS5 Pro stock shortages in Japan and other markets. Resellers have reportedly listed quickly purchased consoles at higher prices, renewing concerns that limited supply could make it harder for players to buy at the standard price. Requiring an established local account and two years of play history may make bulk purchasing and opportunistic resale more difficult, though it cannot eliminate either outright.
The PS5 Pro launched in November 2024, but demand may be rising again ahead of major releases, including the anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI. Industry coverage has also linked tighter gaming-hardware supply to memory constraints and competition for components from AI data centers; those pressures are part of a broader market picture, not a specific explanation Sony has given for this lottery.
A targeted approach to limited stock
Sony’s rules aim to direct a constrained batch of consoles toward people with a record of playing on PlayStation, rather than treating the sale as a standard first-come, first-served checkout. For gamers, the trade-off is a fairer shot at the listed price but no certainty of getting a system—and a requirement that may exclude otherwise interested buyers without enough recent account playtime.
Via GamesRadar