Key Takeaways
- Xbox hardware sales in the US have hit their lowest level since the brand launched nearly 25 years ago.
- PlayStation 5 sales are at their lowest point since 2013, when many buyers delayed purchases ahead of the PS4 launch.
- Higher prices, driven by component costs and broader economic pressures, are hurting demand for gaming consoles.
Video game console sales in the US have experienced a significant downturn, with both PlayStation 5 (PS5) and Xbox hardware suffering major year-over-year declines through the end of August 2026, according to industry analyst Mat Piscatella.
Xbox hardware unit sales are down 33% year-to-date, while PlayStation hardware sales have fallen 25% compared with the same period last year, indicating a broader market slowdown.
The latest figures reveal that PlayStation 5 sales are at their lowest point since 2013, when many buyers delayed purchases ahead of the launch of the PlayStation 4, while Xbox hardware sales have hit their lowest level since the brand launched nearly 25 years ago.
Higher prices are becoming a significant issue for console buyers. Microsoft has raised Xbox pricing several times over the past two years, with the Xbox Series S 512GB now costing $499.99, the 1TB model $599.99, and the Xbox Series X Digital Edition reaching $749.99. The version with a disc drive now costs $799.99, and Microsoft has discontinued its 2TB model.
Sony has also increased PlayStation 5 prices, with the PS5 Digital Edition now costing $599.99, the standard model with a disc drive priced at $649.99, and the more powerful PS5 Pro reaching $899.99. The PlayStation Portal, which originally launched at $199.99, has been raised to $249.99. Even refurbished PS5 Slim models have increased by around $100.
The situation is particularly extreme for the PS5 Pro, with new units remaining difficult to find at the official price, pushing second-hand prices significantly higher. GameStop has reportedly listed refurbished PS5 Pro consoles at $1,399, almost $500 above the official price of a new unit. Other retailers and online marketplaces have also seen heavily inflated prices due to limited supply.
Rising hardware prices are coinciding with one of the steepest declines the US console market has seen in years. Piscatella described the US console hardware market as being in one of its most precarious positions since the early 1980s.
For now, the numbers show that sharply higher prices are coinciding with one of the steepest declines the US console market has seen in years. The upcoming holiday season could provide some relief, while major game releases such as GTA VI may also encourage hardware purchases.
