Demand Surges for PS5 Pro 30th Anniversary Edition as Scalpers Target Limited Preorders

The excitement surrounding the PS5 Pro 30th Anniversary Edition preorders has led to a surge of listings on platforms like eBay, particularly in the West where prices have skyrocketed due to the high demand. In Japan, however, Sony has implemented regulations to help mitigate the influence of scalpers.

The Japanese PlayStation website has announced specific criteria that must be met to qualify for preordering the PS5 Pro 30th Anniversary Edition. Interested individuals need to have a PSN account registered in Japan and accumulate a minimum of 30 hours of gameplay on their PS4 or PS5 between February 2014 and September 19, 2024.

Over in the West, the PS5 Pro – 30th Anniversary Limited Edition Bundle sold out rapidly, leading numerous scalpers to list the consoles at inflated prices almost immediately. Preorders became available on September 26 through PlayStation Direct, priced at $999.99 / £959.99 / €1,099.99. This special edition boasts a nostalgic design and color scheme that pays tribute to the original PlayStation console, though only 12,300 of these exclusive consoles are up for grabs globally.

Japanese gamers have expressed appreciation for the measures put in place, but some believe additional steps could have been taken. While applying a similar runtime requirement for users in other regions might not completely eliminate scalping, it would help in reducing the ease with which scalpers could exploit the limited availability.

A large number of enthusiasts have shared their thoughts on social media platforms, with sentiments reflecting a desire for such protections to extend globally. The PS5 Pro Console - The 30th Anniversary Limited Edition Bundle is now no longer in stock out on PlayStation Direct, while other retailers are set to begin their preorder process on October 10. The official release date for this console is November 21, with the regular PS5 Pro available starting November 7.