PlayStation sales drop in the US

Sony's PlayStation console sales in the United States declined by 25 percent from January to August 2026 compared to the same period in 2025, according to Mat Piscatella, an analyst at Circana. The average price paid for a PlayStation increased by 20 percent over the same period.

Historical context for the decline

Piscatella noted that the American console market has not been as fragile since the beginning of the 1980s, a period marked by a collapse in the video game industry in North America. For the single month of August, PlayStation sales dropped by 11 percent year-on-year.

Revenue growth despite lower sales

However, Sony's revenue from PS5 consoles increased by 17 percent, as each console generates more revenue. The average price of a PS5 now approaches $600 in the United States, for a console entering its sixth year.

Price comparisons over time

In 2018, five years after its release, the PS4 sold for less than $200 with Marvel's Spider-Man included in the box. In France, the PS5 and PS5 Pro cost respectively 649.99 and 899.99 euros since April 2, 2026, compared to 499.99 euros for the PS5 when it was first released in 2020.

Xbox sales and pricing

Microsoft's Xbox console sales dropped by 33 percent from January to August in the United States, reaching their lowest level ever measured by Circana. The average price paid for an Xbox increased by 26 percent over the period, after several price hikes.

Nintendo's performance

Nintendo is holding up better, though it is not immune to the trend. The Switch 2 remains the best-selling console in the United States in August, as it has been since the beginning of the year, in terms of both units sold and dollars.

Wider market decline

However, its sales in value dropped by 13 percent in August compared to August 2025. This decline did not begin this summer. According to Circana figures, in December 2025, the three manufacturers all saw a decline in November in the United States.

Component shortages and rising costs

The three manufacturers have raised their prices, sometimes multiple times, and memory costs weigh heavily on the total. Console manufacturers are competing for memory chips with data centers dedicated to AI.

Future cost projections

Asha Sharma, CEO of Xbox, warned that this cost could be multiplied by more than five by the end of 2027 compared to two years earlier. The same component crisis explains why the PS6 still has no release date.

Sony's shift to digital

Sony also wants to move on from the disc. Sony announced the end of PlayStation disc-based games starting in January 2028. The manufacturer maintained this schedule despite the complaints from gamers and publishers.

Digital dominance

According to Sony, 82 percent of games sold are already downloaded, and physical games now represent only about 4 percent of its software revenue. To go further PlayStation disc phase-out in 2028: the PS6 without a disc drive.

Concerns about the shift

Shawn Layden, former head of PlayStation Worldwide Studios (Sony's internal studios), considers this gamble risky. In the podcast The Expansion Pass, he estimates that about 20 percent of players do not purchase their games digitally, and that these 20 percent are "super important."

Potential impact of GTA 6

For Mat Piscatella, GTA 6, expected in November, could slow the decline at the end of the year, provided that prices and stock levels follow. However, the PS5 is already rare in stores, to the point that in the United States, a used PS5 Pro can be resold for $1,400 (approximately 1,250 euros).

Guides for console buyers

If you are targeting a console for Christmas, a guide for choosing a console in 2026 compares the PS5, Xbox Series, and Switch 2. A second guide is aimed at parents looking for a console and games for a child or teenager.