The demand for PlayStation 5 Pro consoles has gotten so bad that Sony has added an official requirement in order to buy the system in one region. While the move may help some gamers to get a PS5 Pro at list price, others will likely be left out due to this prerequisite.
The PlayStation 5 Pro launched nearly two years ago, and in that time, the prices of PlayStation consoles have gone up considerably, putting the systems out of reach for some gamers. However, likely the most problematic element is the artificial demand created by scalpers, who then go on to list the PlayStations they’ve secured for significantly higher prices than MSRP. Sony is now stepping up in order to try and ensure that its actual fans manage to get a console.
Sony Introduces Gaming Requirement for Buying PlayStation 5 Pro
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The demand for the powerful PS5 Pro has recently gone up, and with it, Sony is trying to do something to help gamers avoid scalpers. In Japan, Sony has introduced a new lottery system due to the overwhelming demand to buy a PlayStation 5 Pro. This is a fairly common technique which only offers the purchase opportunity to winners in the lottery pool. However, what sets this particular lottery apart is that those who enter it have to prove that they’re loyal Sony PlayStation fans by having at least 60 hours of game time on their PSN accounts.
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According to the Japanese PlayStation blog, the entry period of the lottery will be open until October 7, and winners will be notified beginning on October 26. To even enter, buyers will need to have played for at least 60 hours on PlayStation consoles between September 27, 2024, and September 27, 2026. This will be verified during the entry process, as entrants are required to share their Sony account name. If an entrant wins, they’ll then be given the opportunity to purchase the console for 137,980 yen, or about $876 USD by current conversion rates. However, there’s no guarantee that entrants will be selected, given that limited stock is the reason for holding a lottery in the first place.
Given that the consoles in the west have been seeing mark-ups from resellers making the PS5 Pro cost as much as $1,300 USD, managing to net the system for under a grand likely appeals to many. Unfortunately for those among them, the lottery system is only being utilized in Japan. Some gamers have expressed that they wish that Sony would do the same thing outside its home country, as many have been essentially locked out of purchasing the console due to a lack of supply and reseller tactics.
On the other hand, however, there are likely many players who aren’t happy about this new lottery system. While racking up 60 hours of gameplay time over the course of two years wouldn’t be difficult for most players, the deadline has already come and gone, so anyone just under the threshold won’t be able to qualify for a PS5 Pro. Alternatively, those who have been waiting to buy a PS5 Pro and gaming on other systems in the meantime won’t have a chance to enter the lottery, either. Ultimately, there’s no one answer to solving this problem for players at this point, with demand high not only on the consumer side, but also for the parts required to create the console.