Best Buy’s PS5 and Xbox restocks currently have queues around the block

Large queues have started forming outside Best Buy stores across America as the retailer prepares to sell PS5 and Xbox Series X stock on Thursday.

Best Buy confirmed that it will be selling PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X consoles in select stores today from 7.30am local time.

With a number of hours still to go until opening time (at the time of writing), photos have already started appearing on Twitter showing large queues forming around numerous Best Buy stores, with many stretching around the block.

Spieltimes posted a series of photos showing queues outside numerous Best Buy stores around New York.

Other users have started replying with their own photos, showing queues outside stores located in the likes of College Station, TX, Frisco, TX, Charleston, SC, Beavercreek, OH and Brooklyn.

Meanwhile, Twitter user Rinpiass posted a video showing that around 100 people were already queuing at the Best Buy in Columbia, Maryland.

Because the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S launches occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Best Buy restock represents one of the first chances many will have to get a new-gen console without having to battle with scalpers online.

On September 23, select Best Buy stores will have limited quantities of Sony’s and Microsoft’s consoles available.

To stand a chance of buying one, customers need to queue at participating stores, where Best Buy employees will begin distributing tickets at 7.30am local time that morning.

Customers will be asked whether they want to purchase a PS5, PS5 Digital Edition or Xbox Series X, and those who receive a ticket will be guaranteed the opportunity to buy their chosen console once the store opens.

Today’s console sale event was leaked earlier this week. According to internal inventory screens shared with TechRadar, some Best Buy stores are expected to have over 50 of each console available, with many more likely to be on sale at outlets in major metropolitan areas.

Sony claimed in July that PS5 had become its fastest selling console ever after topping 10 million sales globally.

The console reached the milestone in mid-July, about eight months after its November 2020 launch, and just under a month faster than the PS4 managed.

Microsoft also claimed in July that Xbox Series X/S, which launched in November 2020 too, are the company’s fastest selling consoles ever.

“The Xbox Series S and X are our fastest selling consoles ever with more consoles sold life to date than any previous generation,” said CEO Satya Nadella.