Sony is making players in Japan prove they've spent at least 60 hours playing PlayStation before they can apply to buy a PS5 Pro.
Applications for the latest batch of consoles opened on September 28, with Sony introducing a playtime requirement alongside a lottery system if demand exceeds the number available.
PS5 Pro buyers need 60 hours of playtime
According to Sony's official rules, applicants must have accumulated at least 60 hours of playtime across PS4 and PS5 between September 27, 2024 and September 27, 2026.
That playtime must be associated with the same Sony account used to apply, and the account must be registered in Japan.
Meeting the requirement doesn't guarantee a console. Sony says it will hold a lottery if the number of eligible applicants exceeds the stock it plans to sell, with applications closing on October 7.
The restrictions also make it considerably harder to enter using a newly created account purely to secure a console for resale.
The conditions outlined by Sony to apply for the lottery (machine translated).
Sony hasn't explicitly said the 60-hour requirement is designed to combat scalpers, so it's unclear whether that's its primary purpose. However, its terms specifically warn that applications and purchases can be invalidated if Sony determines they were made for resale.
Customers are also prohibited from changing the delivery address after applying or having their package forwarded elsewhere.
The system comes as PS5 Pro stock has been difficult to find in Japan, with Japanese outlets reporting repeated sellouts.
It's not the first time Sony has used a player's PlayStation history as a requirement for buying limited hardware. In 2024, Japanese customers hoping to buy the PS5 Pro 30th Anniversary Edition needed at least 30 hours of PS4 or PS5 activity on their account.
Source: Dexerto