Best Buy is selling PS5 consoles, but access is restricted to its new $200 membership scheme

Best Buy is currently selling PlayStation 5 consoles online, but access to the product is restricted to customers who have signed up to its new Totaltech membership scheme.

Launched nationwide this month, Totaltech is a technology protection plan that costs $199.99 annually.

“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.

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.

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PS5 and Xbox supplier AMD expects chip shortage to ease in second half of 2022

But CEO Lisa Su says supplies will likely remain “tight” in the first half of next year

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 next year and perhaps even beyond.