GTA 6 Hype Triggers PS5 Pro Lottery in Japan as Sony Limits Sales to 60‑Hour Players

Sony is limiting PS5 Pro sales in Japan to players who have logged at least 60 hours on PS4 or PS5, with a lottery to follow if demand outstrips supply, according to the company's Japanese website.

Applications to buy the upgraded console close at 11.59pm on 7 October, around six weeks before Grand Theft Auto VI is due to launch.

Who Can Enter Sony's PS5 Pro Draw?

Applicants must hold a Sony account registered in Japan. That account must show at least 60 hours of gameplay time on PS4 and/or PS5, accumulated while signed in, between 27 September 2024 and 27 September 2026.

Customers who do not meet the requirement are not eligible to apply. Those who do meet it are eligible to apply for the opportunity to buy one console, but are not guaranteed one. The PS5 Pro is priced at ¥137,980 in Japan.

Sony has not disclosed how many consoles are included in the planned sales quantity, nor how many people are expected to apply. It is therefore not possible to say how many applicants will compete for each unit.

Key Dates for PS5 Pro Hopefuls

Sony says it will communicate lottery results from around 26 October. Selected applicants must then complete their purchase online by 11.59am on 2 November. Those who are eligible but not selected will not be able to buy a console through this process.

Sony's notice does not say when successful buyers will actually receive their consoles, only that they must complete the transaction within the stated window. With GTA 6 set for release on 19 November, that leaves a gap of a little over two weeks between the end of the purchase period and the game's launch.

The lottery will take place only if eligible applications exceed the planned sales quantity. If they do not, the notice does not set out what happens next, or whether unsold units would then be offered through another channel.

GTA 6 Timing Raises Questions

Sony has not said the lottery was introduced because of GTA 6, and its notice makes no mention of the game.

The timing is nonetheless notable. GTA 6 is scheduled for release on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S on 19 November, and its PlayStation Store listing confirms it is PS5 Pro Enhanced. Rockstar Games' support pages carry the same release details.

In a PlayStation Blog post in June, Sony said the game would 'play best on PS5'. It pointed to features including the DualSense controller, Tempest 3D AudioTech and the console's SSD. That statement applies to the PS5 platform in general, not the PS5 Pro specifically.

The PS5 Pro is Sony's upgraded version of the PS5. The company markets it around enhanced graphics, advanced ray tracing, 4K output and higher frame rates in compatible games. The PlayStation Store listing for GTA 6 does not specify a resolution or frame rate for the Pro version.

Sony has not provided figures on expected demand around GTA 6's launch, or on how many existing PS5 owners in Japan are likely to qualify under the 60-hour rule. That makes it hard to judge how competitive the lottery will be for players hoping to upgrade in time for the new release.

Big Questions Sony Has Not Answered

Beyond the eligibility criteria and timetable, Sony has given little detail on how the process will work. Its notice does not explain why it chose the 60-hour threshold. It does not say whether the lottery aims to do more than allocate stock when demand exceeds supply, or whether similar schemes will be used elsewhere.

It also does not say how many consoles will be available, or when winners will receive them. The purchase deadline of 2 November is the only post-lottery date Sony has confirmed.

The lottery will take place only if eligible applications exceed the planned sales quantity. If they do not, the notice does not set out what happens next.