Sony has sharply tightened conditions for buying the PlayStation 5 Pro in Japan. Only users with a Japanese account and an actual play record can apply, and sales will be by lottery if supplies are insufficient, IT outlet Engadget reported on Sept. 30.

Sony Japan said it would apply new account and usage-history criteria for people seeking to buy the PS5 Pro in Japan.

Users who want to buy must first have a Sony account registered in Japan. They must use the same account for the actual purchase. They must also have a record of at least 60 hours of play on PS5 or PS4, or both combined, between Sept. 27, 2024 and Sept. 27, 2026. Sony will accept purchase applications from Oct. 7 only from those who meet the conditions.

Submitting an application does not mean an immediate purchase. Sony will use a lottery if there are more applicants than stock. Users approved to buy can purchase 1 unit from Oct. 26 to Nov. 2. Sony has effectively narrowed eligible buyers to actual users.

The move appears to target both scalpers and overseas demand. Sony limited applications to those who meet the eligibility conditions and decided to switch to a lottery if stock is insufficient. That makes it more likely to become harder than before for overseas buyers visiting Japan to secure local supply, or for scalpers to buy in bulk.

PS5 Pro supply shortages are not limited to Japan. In the United States, PS5 Pro has remained unavailable for a time at major retailers. Sony, like the wider industry, is responding to component supply constraints and expects the situation to continue until early 2027.

Demand has not eased even as prices have risen. The PS5 Pro price has increased by $150 from before, but market interest remains high. Demand reportedly grew further after "GTA VI" was officially announced. The game was introduced as a PS5 Pro enhanced version, a title that can use higher performance and graphics.

Against that backdrop, Sony's sales method in Japan is seen as more than a simple change in reservation procedures, and as a case of resetting purchase priority during a supply shortage. By checking the account country, actual use and play time together, the structure gives limited supply first to existing PlayStation users. If supply constraints continue, a key question will be whether similar sales conditions will be expanded to other regions.