Sony implements a lottery system to deal with the PS5 Pro shortage in Japan

Mariella Moon· Sep 30, 2026 · 7:55 AM UTC ·1 min read · 0 reactions · 0 comments · 9 views

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#gaming #sony #playstation #supply-chain #japan

TL;DR · WeSearch summary

Sony Japan has introduced a lottery system to manage the shortage of PS5 Pro consoles in the country. To be eligible for purchase, buyers must prove they are active users by meeting specific playtime requirements on a Japanese account. This measure aims to prevent scalping and ensure units reach genuine local gamers despite ongoing supply constraints.

Key facts

▪Buyers must have a Japanese Sony account and at least 60 hours of playtime on PS4 or PS5 between September 2024 and September 2026 to apply.
▪Applications for the PS5 Pro open on October 7, with approved purchases available from October 26 to November 2.
▪Sony will use a lottery system if the number of applications exceeds the available stock.
▪The company cites component supply constraints that are expected to continue through early 2027 as the reason for the shortage.
▪High demand for the console has been driven by the official announcement of GTA VI, which features PS5 Pro enhancements.

How this story was covered

2 outlets in our directory ran this story, first to last over 20 hours. All of the coverage we found sits in one bucket: centre. That one-sidedness is itself worth noticing.

Centre · 1

▪ Sony Japan tries an anti-scalper lottery system for PS5 Pro orders, locks systems behind a 60-hour playtime requirement — Tom's Hardware

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Original publisher	Engadget
Canonical URL	https://www.engadget.com/2272946/sony-lottery-system-ps5-pro-japan/
Publication time	Wed, 30 Sep 2026 07:55:04 +0000
Retrieval time	2026-09-30T07:56:55.996Z
Last seen	2026-09-30T07:56:55.996Z
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Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand

Gaming PlayStation Sony implements a lottery system to deal with the PS5 Pro shortage in Japan Buyers will have to prove they actually use the PlayStation to be eligible for purchase. By Mariella Moon Sept. 30, 2026 3:55 am EST Sony Add Engadget on Google: Preferred Source Google Discover PlayStation gamers in Japan will have to prove that they're actually playing on the system and possibly enter a lottery to be able to get a PS5 Pro. Sony Japan has announced that anybody who wants to purchase a PS5 Pro in the country will have to meet a number of conditions. First, they must be playing with a Sony account registered in Japan, which they'll also have to use to purchase the Pro console.

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