Nothing is truly free from scalping nowadays. Tokyo Game Show 2026 is well underway after two successful business days limited to members of the media and industry, but its public days have brought with it bustling crowds as people jostle to the busiest booths for free bonuses attached to demos and experiences to sell online. Naturally, Grand Theft Auto 6 is also involved in the chaos.
The fight for the line at GTA 6 booth for Tokyo Game Show
The line was closed within 10 minutes of entry due to max capacity pic.twitter.com/IjwDRWmHKw
— Jake Lucky🔜TGS (@JakeSucky) September 18, 2026
While the event has enjoyed strong crowds for its 30th anniversary show (though it has also been forced to cancel its bonus fifth day added for the first time this year due to the threat of an oncoming typhoon), attached to that has been high demand for the customary bonus items handed out to attendees who participate in select experiences offered by the many companies showcasing at the event. At the PlayStation booth, a special theater was hosting an immersive screening of the recent Netflix Grand Theft Auto showcase featuring haptics and surround sound.
Those who took part would receive a free t-shirt featuring the PlayStation buttons in that distinct gradient of the game’s color scheme. Not only did it take no time for even business attendees to start selling the shirts on Japanese auction site Mercari for over 12,000yen each (roughly $76), its first public day saw entry tickets distributed in their entirety for the day almost entirely as a mad dash broke out to secure entry and the t-shirt.
It’s not only limited to the games themselves where the issue has occurred either. A special Red Bull area planned to distribute special light-up metal tumblers with free energy drinks, before being forced to cancel distribution due to dangerous overcrowding. Distribution did resume later that day, but even these have been resold on Mercari for over 6000yen ($38).
TGS2026 ビジネスデー2日目
ノベルティマン向け🥇SONY GTA6 Tシャツ(昨日8000→13000〜)⤴️
SONYブースで試聴🥈FFレゾナンスカード(昨日13000→9000)⤵️
スクエニブースで試遊🆕レッドブルタンブラー 6500〜
レッドブルブースで配布🥉パルワールド ツッパニャンPRカード
(昨日6000→3500)⤵️…— まいける@tgsビジネスデー (@tgsfan) September 18, 2026
Other popular resold items include special promo cards for the Palworld and Final Fantasy trading card games coinciding with experiences linked to Palworld and Final Fantasy Resonance, while even a special new issue of Game Freak’s doujin magazine from the early days of the company themed to their new weather-related mobile game has seen resold listings.
11時15分、レッドブルのタンブラー配布中止
結構危ない状態やもんなぁ pic.twitter.com/OIeBBoJKXb— Yukkyy '//, (@Yukkyy_sa) September 19, 2026
It’s not only that these cool novelties designed for fans are falling into the hands of scalpers, but that the rush to secure them by both fans and resellers is creating now-dangerous circumstances for all attendees as crowds for the event continue to grow. Recent years have seen the issue befall Metal Gear Solid t-shirts and more, and there’s a possibility that attendees may be discouraged from such handouts in future to prevent such circumstances. It just goes to show that even Japan is far from immune to the scourge of the scalper.
