Sony is taking a new approach to the growing shortage of PlayStation 5 Pro consoles in Japan. Faced with strong demand and limited availability, the company has introduced a lottery system designed to give active PlayStation users a better chance of purchasing the console at its official price. However, participation comes with an unusual condition: applicants must demonstrate that they have actually spent time gaming on PlayStation hardware.

To qualify for the lottery, players need to have accumulated at least 60 hours of gameplay on PlayStation consoles between September 27, 2024 and September 27, 2026. Sony will verify eligibility through the applicant's PlayStation Network account, which must be provided during registration. Applications will remain open until October 7, while successful candidates are scheduled to receive notifications starting October 26. Those selected will then be allowed to purchase a PS5 Pro for 137,980 yen, roughly $876 based on current exchange rates.

The initiative appears intended to prioritize established PlayStation users while limiting the impact of scalpers, who have contributed to significant price inflation on the secondary market. In some Western markets, reseller prices for the PS5 Pro have reportedly reached around $1,300 as shortages continue to affect availability. Sony's Japanese lottery therefore offers successful applicants access to the hardware at its standard retail price rather than inflated resale rates.

For now, the program remains exclusive to Japan, and Sony has not announced a similar system for other territories. The strategy has nevertheless attracted attention from players abroad, particularly those struggling to find the PS5 Pro through traditional retailers. If shortages continue, the Japanese initiative could become an interesting reference point for how Sony manages high-demand hardware releases and attempts to keep consoles in the hands of actual players.