Sony is introducing a lottery system for PS5 Pros on its Japanese online store for when demand for new consoles outstrips the limited supply.
As seen in a new information page on the official Sony website, a post confirms that Sony has begun accepting applications for PS5 Pro purchases.
To apply, you need a Sony account registered in Japan, and have played for more than 60 hours on that account over the past two years. Both appear to be scalping prevention measures, which is great.
Prospective buyers have from today until the 7th October to apply. Here comes the fun part: if the number of applications is larger than the available supply of PS5 Pros, the lottery will be held. Winners will be picked from applicants and messaged on the 26th October. Only these select few will have the pleasure of spending ¥137,980 (around £662 / $876) on a video game console.
Once selected you must hurry. If you don't drop a fat stack of cash within a week you'll lose your chance, and that PS5 Pro will escape your grasp, being thrown back into the lottery pool for another prospective buyer to claim.
I'm of two minds on this story. With supply shortages ongoing, thanks to the AI datacenter boom causing both extreme price rises for gaming hardware as well as stock shrinkage, it sucks to buy a new video game console now. Supply has been a continuous problem for Sony this generation, to the dismay of global gaming enthusiasts.
My other thought is, 'gosh I love a good lottery system'. Square Enix implemented one for Final Fantasy 14's housing system, a game where fierce battles over a limited supply of land raged endlessly. In that game, people used to camp outside of houses they thought would go up for sale. The lottery system took the stress out of their hands: as it does here with the PS5 Pros.