Sony has a clever way to ward off killjoy scalpers trying to get PlayStation 5 Pro in bulk

[Garth Gator]

Sony is leveling up its fight against scalpers with a creative solution aimed at protecting dedicated gamers.

 

The new strategy requires potential buyers to prove their gamer cred before they can snag Sony’s latest console. To qualify, customers in Japan must fill out a reservation application and show they’ve clocked at least 30 hours of playtime on their PlayStation Network account. This playtime can be accumulated on either a PS4 or PS5 between February 22, 2014, and September 19, 2024—which also means anyone attempting to game the system after this announcement would not be able to pre-order.

 

This novel approach aims to tackle the persistent problem of scalping, which has been a thorn in the side of both Sony and genuine gamers. Limited-edition consoles, including the PS5 Pro 30th Anniversary Edition, have been particularly vulnerable to this practice. Scalpers often swoop in, buying up stock in bulk only to resell at inflated prices on secondary markets.

 

By implementing this playtime requirement, Sony Japan hopes to prioritize dedicated gamers over opportunistic resellers. The 30-hour threshold is considered reasonable enough for most genuine players to meet, while still presenting a significant hurdle for those simply looking to flip consoles for profit.

 

However, the system isn’t bulletproof. While it effectively filters out non-gamers, it doesn't completely eliminate the possibility of scalpers who are also avid players themselves. It certainly is still a power-up in the right direction.

 

Currently, this anti-scalping measure is exclusive to the Japanese market. It remains to be seen whether Sony will expand this approach to other regions.

 

• https://www.tomsguide.com/gaming/playstation/sony-has-a-new-anti-scalping-system-for-ps5-pro-pre-orders-heres-what-we-know 
• https://www.ign.com/videos/how-sonys-combating-ps5-pro-scalping-in-japan-ign-daily-fix 
• https://www.xfire.com/how-playstation-japan-limited-edition-ps5-pro-pre-orders-scalp-proof 
• https://gamerant.com/ps5-pro-anniversary-edition-pre-orders-scalpers-restrictions-japan 
• https://www.unilad.com/gaming/sony-ps5-pro-praised-method-stop-scalpers-168088-20241004 

 

 

Image: PlayStation

[Guest Bitcodevs Digital]

This is such a smart move by Sony! It's great to see them taking steps to prioritize real gamers over scalpers. The 30-hour playtime requirement feels fair and should definitely help cut down on bulk buying for resale. I hope they expand this system to other regions soon!