Sony's GTA 6 PS5 Pro Lottery Demands 60 Hours of Playtime

Facing GTA 6-fueled PS5 Pro shortages in Japan, Sony is running a lottery that only PlayStation accounts with 60 hours of logged playtime may enter.

With Grand Theft Auto 6 still weeks from launch, Sony Japan has turned to an unusual solution for PS5 Pro shortages: a purchase lottery with a gaming résumé requirement. According to Mashable, customers must use a Sony account showing at least 60 hours of confirmed playtime on PS4 or PS5 hardware between September 27, 2024 and September 27, 2026 just to enter. Eligible players can apply to buy one console per customer through October 7, with winners notified by October 26 and consoles delivered in the first half of November — ahead of GTA 6's November 19 release.

Kotaku reports that players who have yet to upgrade to current-generation hardware are rushing to buy consoles before GTA 6 arrives in November, pushing already strained supply chains to a breaking point — with the PS5 Pro struggling most. Rockstar has been marketing optimizations exclusive to the PS5 Pro, so players seeking the best version of the game are eyeing Sony's most powerful console. Notably, standard PS5 models remain in stock; the squeeze is specific to the Pro tier, and it is happening in Sony's home market, where PlayStation sales have generally lagged far behind Nintendo in recent years due to higher hardware costs.

Lottery-based distribution is not new to Japan: Kotaku notes Nintendo used similar pre-order lotteries around the Switch 2 launch there. What stands out this time is the activity requirement — Sony is effectively prioritizing proven platform regulars over scalpers or first-come-first-served luck. Kotaku argues the model is arguably fairer than a free-for-all online queue, and suggests more markets should borrow it for gaming hardware shortages. It could also hint at a demand resurgence fueled by GTA 6 that trickles down to revitalize PlayStation's lagging Japanese sales.

The timeline is tight and deliberate. Applications close October 7, results land by October 26, and winners receive their consoles in the first half of November — all calibrated so that even lottery winners get their PS5 Pro before GTA 6 launches on November 19. Mashable frames the requirement as Sony making consumers prove they've put in real PlayStation time before even a chance to buy.