Sony Demands Proof of Play: 60 Hours or No PS5 Pro in Japan

Sony now requires Japanese buyers to prove at least 60 hours of PlayStation gameplay before they can apply for a PS5 Pro on its official store.

The rule targets scalpers, who have repeatedly stripped Japanese shelves of the console. If demand outstrips supply, Sony will pick winners by lottery.

Sony Sets a 60-Hour Bar for PS5 Pro Buyers

PlayStation Japan opened the application window on X.

According to the Sony Store terms, applicants must have logged 60 hours on a PS4 or PS5 between September 27, 2024, and September 27, 2026. That playtime must sit on the same Japan-registered Sony account used for the application. As a result, freshly created accounts cannot qualify. Sony also requires applicants to live in Japan.

Applications close on October 7, and Sony will notify winners from October 26. Winners then have until November 2 to complete the purchase. Each account can buy only one unit. The 2TB console costs ¥137,980, or roughly $876.

However, hitting the 60-hour mark does not guarantee a console. Sony still draws buyers at random when applications outnumber its planned stock.

Why Sony Is Doubling Down on Scalpers

The new bar doubles the 30 hours Sony demanded from Japanese buyers of the PS5 Pro 30th Anniversary Edition. Meanwhile, Japanese retailers have sold out of the standard PS5 Pro again and again.

Sony also warns that it will cancel any order it believes a reseller placed. Buyers cannot change their delivery address after applying, and the company bans package forwarding.

Hardware costs add further pressure. Sony has already raised console prices as AI memory demand drove up chip costs. Sony (SONY) shares are down nearly 10% this year, although they have climbed back from a June low below $20.

In addition, the gate fits a wider pattern of Sony tightening control over its ecosystem. The company plans to stop making game discs in January 2028. It also deleted purchased StudioCanal films from PlayStation libraries.

Still, the rule could shut out returning players who skipped PlayStation for two years. The October lottery should show whether proof of play curbs resales or simply pushes scalpers toward older accounts.