Buying a PS5 Pro in Japan: Sony now demands 60-hour gameplay proof

TVS News AI, editorially supervised, presents Buying a PS5 Pro in Japan: Sony now demands 60-hour gameplay proof.

You want to grab a PS5 Pro before GTA 6 drops? In Japan, the outlook is grim: anyone who wants one has to pay absurd moon-prices to scalpers. Sony is fighting back with an unusual measure.

The PS5 Pro is scarce. Anyone who wants one now is out of luck or has to dig deep into their pockets for scalpers – that's how GamePro describes it. The context: with GTA 6, a blockbuster title is drawing closer that will further heat up demand for the most powerful PlayStation console.

What Sony now demands in Japan

Instead of simply selling to the highest bidder, Sony has put up a hurdle in Japan: anyone wanting to buy a PS5 Pro must prove they have already clocked 60 hours of PlayStation playtime. Anyone who can't provide that proof walks away empty-handed.

What's behind the rule?

The measure is clearly aimed at scalpers, who buy up consoles in bulk and resell them at hefty markups. Anyone who can prove 60 hours of playtime most likely belongs to the target audience – and not the reseller crowd.

Why Japan specifically?

The rule currently only applies in Japan. GamePro puts it this way:

Sony has an idea to counter it – though so far it has only been used in Japan.

Whether and when other regions will follow remains open.

What does this mean for buyers over here?

In Germany, nothing changes for now: the rule only applies in Japan. You'll still have to wait for regular restocks or pay scalper prices. If Sony expands the system, the proof should hardly be an issue for real gamers – 60 hours is realistic.