The PS5 Pro shortage GTA 6 set off is now bad enough that Sony Japan is rationing the console by lottery, and that used units in the US are about to cost more than new ones. If you want a Pro before November 19, the realistic routes are narrow: catch an official restock, pay a premium, or decide the standard PS5 is good enough.
How did the PS5 Pro shortage start?
The trigger was Rockstar’s 26-minute Netflix preview of GTA 6 on August 27, which sent PS5 Pro stock vanishing across the US and Europe. The game itself is set for Thursday, November 19, 2026, and as of early October no further delay has been announced.
By September 19, Tom’s Guide reported the Pro sold out across major US retailers, with GameStop holding only limited pre-owned stock. That happened even though Sony had already raised the price. The US MSRP went from $749.99 to $899.99 on April 2, 2026, and the UK price is now £789.99.
How does Sony’s Japan lottery work?
Sony Store Japan opened PS5 Pro applications on September 28, and they close on October 7. To enter, your PlayStation Network account must show at least 60 hours of PS4 or PS5 play between September 27, 2024 and September 27, 2026. If applications exceed stock, winners are drawn at random.
The details matter more than the headline:
- Japan only. You need a Japan-registered Sony account and Japanese residency, and shipping stays within Japan.
- The hours window is already closed. Playing more during the application period doesn’t count.
- One console per account. The price is ¥137,980, and results arrive from around October 26, with payment due by November 2. Sony also plans a second draw for units winners leave unclaimed.
Sixty hours over two years works out to well under an hour a week. That’s easy for a real player and awkward for a reseller with a stack of fresh accounts. You can’t fake two years of history.
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Why a lottery instead of first come, first served?
Because first come, first served rewards bots and people who refresh pages for a living. A playtime gate pushes the advantage back toward people who actually use their consoles. Reporting on the scheme says the aim is to stop scalpers who create new accounts and resell in bulk.
It isn’t a neutral system, though. It can shut out new PS5 owners and returning players who haven’t logged enough hours, even if they’re ready to pay. Japan-only accounts also exclude tourists and overseas buyers, which seems deliberate.
Is GTA 6 really the only cause of the PS5 Pro shortage?
No. GTA 6 is the clearest demand driver, but it probably isn’t the whole story. One report says the memory component price spike hitting the hardware sector in 2026 may also be squeezing supply. Another outlet cautions that the Japan lottery is not proof that GTA 6 caused the shortage.
Sony hasn’t published a timeline. A memo to distributors, reported by PlayStation LifeStyle and Playfront, reportedly blames temporary supply constraints and high demand. It says tight supply will last through early 2027 at the earliest. I’d treat that as a credible rumor rather than confirmed policy, since Sony hasn’t released the memo itself.
The UK looks different from the US. Idealo data shows UK demand jumped 348% week-on-week when GTA 6 pre-orders opened in late June. UK prices climbed from a discounted £649.99 in June back to about £789, roughly Sony’s RRP. In other words, UK discounts disappeared, while the big above-RRP scalping is mostly a US and German story. UK late-August StockX listings did reach about £1,073, though.
How high have PS5 Pro resale prices gone?
High enough to be silly. An alleged GameStop memo, circulated this week, lists used PS5 Pro Digital consoles at $1,399.99 and the version with a disc drive at $1,499.99, effective October 16. The same memo reportedly says the used console costing more than a new one is intentional.
Two caveats. GameStop hasn’t confirmed the memo, and VideoCardz notes its unusual date wording has raised questions. Also, the memo reportedly raises trade-in values to $800 to $850, which suggests GameStop is following the secondary market rather than Sony’s MSRP.
| Market | Official price | Reported street price |
|---|---|---|
| US | $899.99 (Sony, since April 2026) | Used at GameStop: $1,399.99 to $1,499.99 (alleged, from Oct 16). eBay: reportedly around $1,500 per GameGPU, though Notebookcheck says used listings usually close above $1,000 |
| UK | £789.99 | StockX: about £1,073 asking, £1,014 last sale (late August) |
| Japan | ¥137,980 | Lottery only via Sony Store |
Will the US or UK get a lottery too?
Nothing I found suggests so. The Japan scheme is specific to Sony Store Japan, and it relies on account history and residency checks. Sony’s US and UK restocks have so far been ordinary random drops through PlayStation Direct and retailers. If that changes, expect Sony to announce it through PlayStation Blog.
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What should you do if you want to play GTA 6 on a PS5 Pro?
Start with the price anchor. Anything over $899.99 in the US or £789.99 in the UK is a premium for impatience, and a used console costing more than a new one is hard to justify. Check PlayStation Direct and the big retailers for official restocks, and treat any “GTA 6 PS5 Pro bundle” with suspicion. GTA Intel found no official Sony or Rockstar bundle, only retailer-assembled ones.
The standard PS5 is the fallback. Reports say the shortage applies only to the Pro and that the base console is still purchasable. GTA 6 launches on PS5 and PS5 Pro, so the game isn’t locked behind the upgrade. Whether the Pro’s extra power makes a visible difference in GTA 6 is unconfirmed, and one outlet has speculated about a 30fps target. Paying a $400 to $600 premium for an unproven upgrade is a gamble.
If someone asks “Is the PS5 Pro worth chasing specifically for GTA 6?”, my answer right now is probably no, unless you already want the Pro for other games and have a high-end 4K TV.
The key issue is frame rate. Current reporting says GTA 6 is running at 30 FPS during development even on PS5 Pro, and Rockstar has not confirmed a 60 FPS performance mode.
There is, however, a confirmed PS5 Pro Enhanced version of GTA 6, so the Pro should offer some visual/performance advantages. Sony and Rockstar also explicitly promote GTA 6 as optimized for PS5, while the PlayStation Store lists GTA 6 as PS5 Pro Enhanced.
| If you’re buying for… | PS5 Pro? |
|---|---|
| GTA 6 only | No, wait |
| GTA 6 + best possible console visuals | Maybe |
| GTA 6 at guaranteed 60 FPS | No guarantee |
| Multiple PS5 Pro Enhanced games | Yes, more reasonable |
| Large 4K/120Hz TV and sit close | More worthwhile |
| Paying scalper prices of $1,400-$1,500 | Absolutely not |
One side note. Sony has reportedly revised the PS5 Slim’s internals, with a new motherboard, an easier-to-replace CMOS battery, a revised heatsink and a redesigned HDMI retimer. There are no independent measurements yet showing it runs cooler or quieter, so don’t buy on that claim alone.
FAQ
Can I enter Sony’s PS5 Pro lottery from the US or UK?
No. Entry requires a Japan-registered Sony account and Japanese residency, and the console ships only within Japan. The application window closes October 7.
Why is a used PS5 Pro priced above a new one?
New units are sold out at most retailers, so used prices follow what resale buyers will pay rather than Sony’s MSRP. An alleged GameStop memo says the markup is intentional. The company hasn’t confirmed it.
When will PS5 Pro stock return to normal?
Sony hasn’t given an official date. A memo reportedly sent to distributors points to early 2027 at the earliest. Occasional restocks are possible before then, but they may sell out quickly.
Do I need a PS5 Pro to play GTA 6?
No. GTA 6 launches on November 19, 2026 for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, and the PS5 Pro runs it through the PS5 version. The standard PS5 remains available.
