- Anticipation for Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto VI is contributing to PlayStation 5 Pro shortages in Japan.
- Sony is using a lottery to determine who can purchase a PlayStation 5 Pro.
- Applicants must show at least 60 hours of confirmed PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5 playtime during the specified period.
Japan’s PS5 Pro Shortage Spurs Sony Store Lottery
With the release of Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto VI still weeks away, demand for Sony’s PlayStation 5 Pro is already intensifying in Japan. Although Grand Theft Auto VI will launch on multiple consoles, players looking for what they consider the ultimate GTA 6 experience may be targeting Sony’s most powerful PlayStation system.
In response to the PlayStation 5 Pro shortage, Sony is requiring prospective buyers in Japan to enter a lottery for the opportunity to purchase the console. The system is not being offered through a standard open purchase process to all interested consumers.
Playtime Requirement for PS5 Pro Applicants
Sony is also imposing an additional eligibility condition before consumers can enter the Sony Store lottery. Applicants must use a Sony account that records at least 60 hours of confirmed playtime on a PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5 between September 27, 2024 and September 27, 2026.
Consumers who satisfy the playtime requirement can apply to purchase one PlayStation 5 Pro through October 7. Sony will notify lottery winners by October 26, after which successful applicants can complete their purchases. The consoles are scheduled to be delivered during the first half of November.
PS5 Pro Demand Builds Before GTA 6 Release
The timing of Sony’s lottery places the purchase process shortly before Grand Theft Auto VI arrives on November 19. Rockstar Games’ highly anticipated title is therefore becoming an important factor in the market for PlayStation 5 Pro consoles in Japan, even though the game is planned for multiple console platforms.
Why This Matters
Sony’s Japan lottery shows how expectations surrounding a major game release can affect hardware availability before launch. The PlayStation 5 Pro’s limited purchasing opportunity also means that eligible consumers must meet Sony’s account-history requirement, apply by the deadline and wait for the lottery results before they can secure the console.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Sony holding a PS5 Pro lottery in Japan?
Sony is using a lottery because the PlayStation 5 Pro is facing shortages in Japan, with demand being fueled in part by anticipation for Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto VI.
Who can enter the Sony Store PS5 Pro lottery?
Applicants must use a Sony account showing at least 60 hours of confirmed playtime on a PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5 between September 27, 2024 and September 27, 2026.
When will PS5 Pro lottery winners receive their consoles?
Sony plans to notify winners by October 26. Successful applicants can then purchase one PlayStation 5 Pro, with delivery expected during the first half of November, ahead of the November 19 release of Grand Theft Auto VI.