Update 2:26PM ET, February 22nd: Best Buy has sold out of its allotment of Totaltech-exclusive Xbox Series X consoles for now.
If you haven’t been able to nab an Xbox Series X, today may be your lucky day. Best Buy has the coveted console in stock for its usual price of $499.99, though, the drop is exclusive to paying Totaltech subscribers. If you weren’t already aware, Totaltech is Best Buy’s premium membership, one that combines tech support, product protection, and access to exclusive console restocks for $199.99 per year. It’s an expensive service, though if you feel you’re still struggling to find Microsoft’s next-gen console, it should improve your chances of landing a console.
If you are a Totaltech member, make sure you’ve logged into your account ahead of time, double-check that your billing and shipping information is correct, and stay persistent. To get in line, make sure to click the “Add to Cart” button, and be prepared for Best Buy to ask you to verify your information. Also, don’t give up if the Series X appears to sell out — Best Buy often releases consoles in waves of 10-minute intervals, so you may have a second chance.
If you don’t manage to score a console today, however, keep your head up. We’re constantly on the lookout for further availability of the latest consoles, so keep checking back. To lift your spirits in the meantime, why not subscribe to our Verge Deals newsletter for weekly updates filled with the latest gaming, tech, and gadget deals?
Accessories and games to consider for your Xbox Series X
If you are able to secure an Xbox Series X, we’ve also rounded up a few games and accessories to consider below, some of which are also compatible with the last-gen Xbox One.
Halo Infinite Standard Edition
The standard edition is available for preorder for $60 at Amazon, the Microsoft Store, and GameStop with no additional preorder bonuses.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate offers access to more than 100 titles, including the likes of Halo Infinite, Powerwash Simulator, Pentiment, and surprise hits like Hi-Fi Rush, which you can play on Xbox consoles and PC. The pass also gives subscribers access to exclusive deals, online multiplayer, and Microsoft’s cloud gaming service, Xbox Cloud Gaming.
Forza Horizon 5 (Xbox)
Forza Horizon 5 is the latest of the long-running open-world racing game developed by Playground Games. It’s an exclusive Xbox title, playable on both Xbox Series X / S and Xbox One consoles. The new installment is set across a lusciously detailed landscape in Mexico and features over 500 cars at launch.
Microsoft partnered with Seagate to make proprietary SSDs that can be inserted into the rear of either console. The SSDs are currently available in multiple configurations, including a 512GB model for $139.99, a 1TB variant for $218.95, and a 2TB version for $399.99. All three are supposedly just as fast as the storage inside your new console, so this is the best place to keep all of the new games you want to quickly load and switch between.