Sony has implemented an unusual measure to manage the scarcity of the PlayStation 5 Pro in Japan: consumers must provide evidence of having played for at least 60 hours on PS4 or PS5 within the last year to be able to purchase the console. This determination was communicated by the company itself and came into effect this week.
It is important to note that the most powerful version of the PS5 is one of the items with the lowest global stock availability this year, and this situation is projected to persist until 2027. While consumers in the United States have had difficulty locating the console, in Brazil the model is available for sale on e-commerce platforms, with prices starting at R$ 7,599.
This restriction applies exclusively to Japan, meaning only PlayStation accounts based in Japan can request the purchase of the PS5 Pro in that market. In addition to the playtime prerequisites, interested parties must participate in a queue. As reported by Engadget, the release process operates through a lottery system, where only selected users will be able to make the purchase after approval.
The technology sector has been affected by the lack of various components, with the RAM memory crisis being a highlight. An internal communication from Sony sent to partner retailers, according to the German portal Playfront, confirmed that this shortage scenario should not change until 2027.
One of the company's main challenges lies in the low supply versus growing demand, largely driven by the launch of GTA 6, scheduled for November of this year. Although the title should run without issues on the standard PS5, there is an expectation that it will offer greater fluidity on the Pro model. It is worth noting that the PC version will not be made available at this initial time.