Sony Interactive Entertainment is now tackling the ongoing PS5 Pro shortage in Japan by initiating a lottery system.
According to the official PlayStation Japan product page (via Genki_JPN on Twitter/X), the console maker has opened purchase applications through the Japanese Sony Store, with applications accepted until October 7, 2026, at 11:59 PM Japan time. The lottery applies when the number of eligible applicants exceeds the planned number of units available. This makes the purchase process different from a conventional first-come, first-served sale and limits access to customers who meet the company’s eligibility requirements.
The PS5 Pro lottery requires that applicants must have used a PlayStation Network account registered in Japan to access PlayStation online services, accumulating at least 60 hours of playtime on PS5, PS4, or across both between the 2-year period of September 27, 2024, and September 27, 2026. This effectively restricts the lottery to users with a recent history of PlayStation activity.
Applicants must also have their Sony account linked to a unified My Sony ID and agree to Sony’s terms. The application is limited to one console per Sony account, and applicants must reside in Japan. Sony Interactive Entertainment also warns against applications or purchases intended for scalping.
The PS5 Pro is currently priced at 137,980 Yen, which is around 880 US Dollars. According to Sony Interactive Entertainment, lottery results will begin being sent out by around October 26, 2026. Successful applicants must complete their online Sony Store purchase by 11:59 AM on November 2, 2026. If some winners fail to purchase their consoles by the deadline, the console maker will conduct another lottery among eligible applicants who were not initially selected.
Soon after the Netflix showcase for the eagerly anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI s in August, the PS5 Pro reportedly began selling out and being scalped at a hefty markup in different parts of the world. Read about it here.
