Scalpers have been a massive issue in many markets and the fact that there is some Joe quickly using bots to buy all stock of a coveted item is becoming a part of every hobby. Sony and PlayStation have decided to try to take this issue into their own hands.
As of yesterday, if you’re looking to own a PlayStation 5 Pro from the latest produced batch, you’ll need to show your gaming record. According to Dexerto, your PlayStation account needs to have upwards of 60 hours of game time in the last two years.
This is not the first time that Sony has issued such a strict requirement, with a similar one in 2024 for the PlayStation 5 Pro 30th Anniversary edition, albeit that only mandated half the playtime.
In case the number of orders exceeds the stock, Sony will also trigger a lottery system on top of the playtime requirements.
While Sony hasn’t directly said the measures are to combat scalpers, when scalpers are an issue in most hobby areas, it’s hard to find another reason to tie the console to the actual end user.
The Sony account must be linked to the address to which the PlayStation 5 Pro will be sent; otherwise, the order will be cancelled. Sony explicitly stated that if the account was created or the purchase was made specifically for the purpose of reselling, this will also constitute grounds for cancellation.
Customers are unable to change the delivery address after confirming it; forwarding will also be prohibited, so maybe if you’re ordering the PS5 Pro and are moving any time soon, you have to stick to your current address and wait it out.
The measures are in place because of massive shortages in the PlayStation 5 Pro stock across Japan, and the scarcity has forced Sony to address the situation.
سەرچاوەی فەرمی بە زمانی ئینگلیزی: https://www.dualshockers.com/sony-anti-resale-move-might-block-xbox-nintendo-migration-japan/
