Sony is introducing a strict lottery system for PlayStation 5 Pro orders in Japan, adding an unusual requirement designed to make it harder for scalpers, newly created accounts and short-term visitors to secure the high-end console.
Under the new system, customers hoping to purchase a PS5 Pro must meet several eligibility requirements before they can even enter the lottery. Among the most notable conditions is a requirement to have accumulated at least 60 hours of gameplay on a PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5 during a specified period.
The system also requires customers to use a Sony account registered in Japan. That means tourists and international PlayStation users who do not have an eligible domestic account cannot simply enter the Japanese lottery while visiting the country.
If the number of eligible applicants is greater than the available supply, Sony will select successful buyers through a lottery.
A 60-Hour Playtime Requirement
The 60-hour gameplay requirement is the most unusual part of Sony’s new approach.
To qualify, an applicant’s PlayStation account must show at least 60 hours of gameplay on a PS4 or PS5 during the designated eligibility period. The requirement is intended to establish that the account has an existing history of using PlayStation hardware rather than being created specifically to obtain a limited console.
This makes the process significantly different from a conventional online sale.
Normally, customers looking for a new console only need to find available stock and complete their purchase before someone else does. In a lottery system, however, Sony can introduce additional conditions before allowing customers to compete for the available units.
The playtime requirement means that creating a new account shortly before the sale will not be enough.
It also creates a barrier for people who operate multiple accounts for the purpose of entering a lottery several times.
Domestic Accounts Are Required
Sony is also limiting the lottery to customers with qualifying Japanese accounts.
The requirement effectively prevents international visitors from simply arriving in Japan and participating in the sale using an overseas PlayStation account.
For tourists, this means having a physical presence in Japan does not automatically make them eligible. Sony’s account and residency requirements are designed to keep the sales process focused on its domestic customer base.
The restriction could also affect international PlayStation users who happen to be in Japan but have always used an account registered in another country.
PlayStation accounts are generally associated with a specific region, and Sony’s new system uses that information as part of its eligibility criteria.
For a company attempting to distribute limited hardware fairly among local customers, the domestic-account requirement provides another layer of control.
Why Sony Is Targeting Scalpers
Scalping has been a persistent issue for popular gaming hardware.
When a new console or limited product launches, demand can quickly exceed supply. Resellers may purchase products and subsequently list them at substantially higher prices on secondary marketplaces.
This can make it difficult for ordinary customers to purchase the product at its official retail price.
Sony’s new lottery system attempts to address this problem before customers even reach the purchasing stage.
A scalper cannot simply create a large number of new accounts and immediately qualify. Each account would need an established history of PlayStation gameplay, including the required 60 hours.
The domestic account requirement creates another obstacle, particularly for international resellers who may have previously targeted Japanese hardware because of regional demand.
Sony’s approach does not make scalping impossible. An eligible customer could still purchase a console and later resell it. However, the additional requirements make large-scale participation more difficult.
Winning the Lottery Still Isn’t Guaranteed
Meeting Sony’s requirements does not guarantee that an applicant will receive a PS5 Pro.
If more eligible customers apply than there are consoles available, Sony will conduct a lottery among the qualifying applicants.
That means even a long-time PlayStation user with hundreds of hours of gameplay could still miss out.
The system therefore separates eligibility from availability. First, customers have to prove that they meet the requirements. Then they have to be selected.
This approach could also prevent the chaotic rush often associated with online console launches, when thousands of customers attempt to purchase limited stock at exactly the same time.
Instead of competing based purely on internet speed, customers who meet the requirements receive an opportunity to participate.
Some Genuine Customers Could Also Be Excluded
While the rules are aimed at reducing scalping, they could also affect legitimate PlayStation users.
Someone who recently purchased their first PlayStation console may not have accumulated the required amount of gameplay. Similarly, a casual gamer who owns a PS5 but rarely plays could fail to meet the threshold.
The requirement could also create difficulties for customers who have used multiple accounts or primarily played games on a different account from the one they intend to use for the purchase.
In other words, the system uses previous PlayStation activity as an indicator of genuine interest, but playtime does not necessarily reveal why someone wants to buy a console.
A person with thousands of hours of gameplay could still resell a PS5 Pro, while a new customer with little playtime could be a genuine buyer.
A New Model for Console Sales
Sony’s Japanese lottery system reflects the growing difficulty manufacturers face when demand for limited hardware exceeds supply.
Rather than relying entirely on a first-come, first-served system, Sony is introducing multiple layers of eligibility designed to prioritise established users.
The PS5 Pro is positioned as a premium version of Sony’s current console, offering stronger graphics performance and enhanced features for players seeking higher-quality gaming experiences. Its price and limited availability make it particularly attractive to enthusiasts and potentially to resellers.
By requiring a Japanese account and a substantial history of PS4 or PS5 gameplay, Sony is attempting to ensure that access to the console is tied to an established connection with the PlayStation ecosystem.
The system will not completely eliminate scalpers, and the lottery cannot guarantee that every genuine customer will receive a console. However, it changes the process from a simple race for stock into a more controlled selection system.
For Japanese PlayStation users, buying a PS5 Pro now requires more than finding an available console. They must have the right domestic account, meet the 60-hour gameplay threshold and, ultimately, be lucky enough to win the lottery.
For Sony, the experiment could provide a blueprint for handling future limited hardware releases where demand is high and preventing large-scale resale remains a challenge.
