Sony is introducing an anti-scalping lottery system for PS5 Pro consoles on its Japanese online store, to manage high demand while supply remains limited. The process is designed to control access to new units rather than allow immediate purchase by resellers.
Both outlets report that the lottery adds an eligibility requirement tied to actual console use. Applicants are expected to demonstrate they use their existing PlayStation hardware to qualify for consideration, aiming to ensure the consoles go to consumers rather than accounts created solely to resell.
While the two reports focus on the same core mechanism—an in-store lottery with use-based eligibility—their emphasis differs slightly. Eurogamer highlights the broader rationale of persistent shortages and the need to ration limited stock. Engadget underscores that buyers must “prove” they use their PS consoles, framing the lottery as part of an anti-scalping effort. Neither report indicates a change to the broader availability situation beyond the new purchase system in Japan.
