Best Buy has PS5 consoles available online, but only for Totaltech members
The US retailer launched its $200 product protection plan last month
Best Buy is taking PlayStation 5 orders online, but access to the product is currently restricted to those who have signed up to its new Totaltech membership scheme.
Launched nationwide in October, Totaltech is a technology protection plan that costs $199.99 per year.
“Best Buy Totaltech gives you peace of mind in one comprehensive plan: around-the-clock tech support, up to 24 months of product protection on most Best Buy purchases with an active membership, free delivery and standard installation, plus other great benefits,” according to the retailer.
Totaltech members can purchase a PS5 through this link at the time of publication on Monday.
UPDATE 09/11/21: Walmart will be selling PS5 consoles online on Tuesday, November 9. Standard and Digital Edition consoles will be available from 12pm PT / 3pm ET.
Once they’re available, you should be able to purchase the consoles through the following links, stock permitting:
ORIGINAL STORY CONTINUES: PS5 consoles are also currently available to purchase online for Walmart+ members.
In late September, Best Buy sold limited quantities of PS5 and Xbox Series X consoles in stores for the first time this year, attracting large queues at numerous locations.
Console manufacturers have struggled with stock shortages for over 18 months now, after the pandemic shut down essential supply chains and saw demand for gaming devices increase significantly as countries implemented social distancing measures.
The boss of AMD, which makes the CPUs and GPUs inside PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, recently said she expects chip supply issues to ease gradually in the second half of 2022.
Chip maker Toshiba also recently warned that supply issues for power regulating chips will stretch well into late 2022 and perhaps even beyond.
US-based consumers hoping to purchase a PS5 console can now register their interest directly with Sony for a chance to do so. The company is making a limited number of PS5 consoles available for customers in the US to purchase directly from PlayStation this holiday season.