Sony will require buyers in Japan to show active PlayStation use before they can apply to purchase a PS5 Pro, and it will hold a lottery if demand exceeds available stock.
Eligible buyers must use a Sony account registered in Japan and have logged at least 60 hours on a PS5, PS4 or both between Sept. 27, 2024 and Sept. 27, 2026.
Applications to buy the console open on Oct. 7. Approved applicants will be able to purchase a unit between Oct. 26 and Nov. 2.
Sony said the lottery will apply if applications exceed the number of units available for sale. The company outlined the conditions in an announcement by Sony Japan and in a Sept. 28 post from the official PlayStation Japan account on X.
The restrictions are aimed at limiting purchases by resellers and by foreign visitors seeking to buy the console in Japan.
In the United States, the PS5 Pro has been unavailable at major retailers for some time because of a stock shortage. Sony is dealing with component supply constraints that it expects to continue through early 2027.
Demand has remained strong despite a $150 price increase for the PS5 Pro. Interest increased after the announcement of GTA VI, which is labeled PS5 Pro Enhanced and is designed to use the console’s upgraded hardware for improved performance and graphics.
