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[Lunatic_Gamer]

The fee for the rental service is 980 yen for 7 nights and 8 days, which converts to a rather reasonable $6.56 USD. Renting a PS5 for 14 nights and 15 days comes out slightly cheaper, at 1,780 yen or $11.92 USD. This makes it a good option for gamers who want to try out the console or certain PS5 exclusive games without the commitment, or PS5 users who need a replacement while waiting for repairs.

Interestingly, the start of the service just so happens to coincide with the release of Capcom’s Monster Hunter Wilds, which is popular enough to be many Japanese gamers’ motivation for buying a PS5 in the first place.

While this isn’t Japan’s first nor only PS5 rental service, it has garnered a lot of attention due to the fact that it comes from a trusted game retailer and offers one of the cheapest plans out there (source: MyNavi).

Japan gets new PS5 rental service, charging $6.56 for 8 days and 7 nights with the console - AUTOMATON WEST

GEO, one of Japan’s biggest video game retailers, has announced that it will be launching an affordable PS5 rental service.

automaton-media.com

 

[Scrawnton]

Perfect timing. That's about how much time it'll take to 100% MHWilds.

 

[Skifi28]

 

[squidilix]

I don't know how Japan's economy is improving. But it's true that the latest price increase of the PS5 (and probably all electronic equipment) must have hurt a lot.

The most interesting and cheaper alternative for Japan is PS Portal and PS+Premium if the game is in it. (but this isn't the case).

 

[rickybooby87]

Phil Spencer:

 

[Elios83]

Ummm a lot of key missing details...

And the price of the games you want to play for a console you don't own?
And if you want to play online, you subscribe and pay for Plus as well on your own on top?
You create your own PSN account?
Will the retailers be somehow responsible for how these consoles could be used or mis-used?

 

[Angry_Megalodon]

Back to the 90s.

 

[saintjules]

What is this, a Cruise?

 

[StereoVsn]

Ummm a lot of key missing details...

And the price of the games you want to play for a console you don't own?
And if you want to play online, you subscribe and pay for Plus as well on your own on top?
You create your own PSN account?
Will the retailers be somehow responsible for how these consoles could be used or mis-used?

Seems just the console. Games and PSN are your problem to handle.

It is a good point on what happens if console gets banned. You probably have something in the Rental Agreement that would make you liable I imagine.

 

[Gonzito]

Can I rent a lady instead?

 

[SJRB]

Is cloud computing dead?

Can’t see this working anywhere else though.

 

[HerjansEagleFeeder]

Can I rent a lady instead?

 

[Toots]

Ummm a lot of key missing details...

And the price of the games you want to play for a console you don't own?
And if you want to play online, you subscribe and pay for Plus as well on your own on top?
You create your own PSN account?
Will the retailers be somehow responsible for how these consoles could be used or mis-used?

And most importantly, will you be able to wait until its the stoner dude shift at the rental store and bring him back a the box with old phone books in it, but since he's too high he doesn't notice and you sign the release and by the time someone does notice there's nothing they can do about it.

Can I rent a lady instead?

Yes but only the Fable lady is available at the moment

 

[Gonzito]

Yes but only the Fable lady is available at the moment

 

[Punished Miku]

Some of my fondest gaming memories were renting a Saturn from Blockbuster and trying to run through Panzer Dragoon in a weekend.

 

[LordOcidax]

Back to the 90s.

I remember my father renting the N64 for some time.

 

[Shifty1897]

My parents rented an N64 for the weekend for my 11th birthday in 1996 with Shadows of the Empire and Mario 64 for $20. Nearly 30 years later and you can rent a PS5 for a week for $6.56.

Japan are you okay?

 

[Davevil]

rental service? here in italy it has disappeared since the neo geo days (the only way to afford it at the time if you weren't filthy rich)

 

[Gen.Grievous]

Can I rent a lady instead?

It's Japan. You can rent a whole family.

 

[lestar]

Switch 2 will dominate japan

 

[Punished Miku]

My parents rented an N64 for the weekend for my 11th birthday in 1996 with Shadows of the Empire and Mario 64 for $20. Nearly 30 years later and you can rent a PS5 for a week for $6.56.

Japan are you okay?

Might actually get a kid to play a console this way. Everything about gaming is geared towards 40 year olds now.

 

[PeteBull]

7 nights?

how about

 

[od-chan]

non-story

 

[March Climber]

Can I rent a lady instead?

You can do this in any country. It starts with a P and rhymes with constitution.

 

[EverydayBeast]

The rent a console strategy

 

[ssringo]

You can do this in any country. It starts with a P and rhymes with constitution.

Persecution is bad mmkay?

 

[yogaflame]

Rental of games and console was normal back in the 80's and 90's. And even in the ps1 to ps3 era.

 

[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

Looks like this new PS5 rental service in Japan is very popular.

Cleverly riding the wave of Monster Hunter Wilds’ release, GEO, one of Japan’s biggest video game retailers, launched a brand-new PS5 rental service on February 28. As of March 6, the service is fully booked across all regions of Japan, making it impossible to reserve at the time of writing.

It’s not known how many PS5s GEO has available for rental in the first place, but given that the service is being provided by 400 of its stores nationwide, it would be reasonable to assume that they are renting out a solid number of PS5s. Both the 8-day and 15-day rental plans are booked until mid-April, with appointments beyond that date not yet available.

Contributing to the popularity of the service is its surprisingly affordable pricing, with the 8-day plan being around $6.56 USD and the 15-day plan priced around $11.92 USD. In addition, Monster Hunter Wilds has no doubt been a big incentive for people who don’t own a PS5 to try renting one.

As an aside, Japanese people on X who rented a PS5 from GEO have reported having such a great time with the console that they decided to buy their own.

Japan’s new PS5 rental is massively popular, with service fully booked across all regions - AUTOMATON WEST

Japan's new PS5 rental service is impossible to book right now, no doubt thanks to the popularity of Monster Hunter Wilds.

automaton-media.com

 

[Grizzled Ghost]

That seems cheap. It'll take at least a year to break even on a console, even if they're getting them for like 350. Without even accounting for any other overhead expenses.