Winners and Losers: Like many consumer electronics products today, the PlayStation 5 Pro is facing significant shortages in parts of the world. In Japan, Sony is resorting to a lottery system to sell its newly manufactured consoles to real gamers while keeping criminals and speculators out.
Despite the significant backlash over its plan to stop producing discs for new games in 2028, Sony remains popular in the console business. In fact, the PlayStation 5 Pro has become so popular that the company is now trying to prevent scalping by limiting the number of customers who can get the new console.
Sony is now accepting “purchase requests” from local buyers on its Japan-focused online store. Japanese players can apply to purchase a brand new PlayStation 5 Pro, but only until October 7th. The company notes that submitting a purchase form does not necessarily guarantee the right to purchase a console.
Quite the opposite. If the number of purchase requests exceeds the number of sales Sony wants to complete, the company holds a lottery among applicants. Sony’s wording essentially assumes that demand will exceed supply and that each applicant must be a legitimate customer according to the rules on which the lottery is based.
— Genki✨ (@Genki_JPN) September 28, 2026
Applicants must have logged at least 60 hours of play time on PS4, PS5 or both between September 27, 2024 and September 27, 2026 on a Sony account registered in Japan. Sony will begin notifying the lottery’s “winners” around October 26th, and they will have to complete their purchase through the company’s online store by November 2nd.
After November 2nd, uncompleted sales will be canceled and Sony will “redistribute” the consoles to other eligible customers. Purchase and shipping are only available in Japan and each Sony account can request a single PS5 Pro. The lottery includes some additional rules that further limit customers’ ability to purchase a new model of Sony’s most powerful console to date.
Sony’s attempt to curb scalping and other malicious dealings is understandable, but it could prove to be a double-edged sword. Rockstar will release GTA VI on November 19th, and a significant number of gamers might consider purchasing a new console just to experience the latest and greatest crime adventure that everyone loves to hate.
And it could get worse. If the shortage continues, Sony could expand its lottery program to the United States and other regions outside of Japan.
