Circana: Xbox US Hardware Sales Down 33%, PlayStation 25% in 2026
Xbox year-to-date US console unit sales hit an all-time low through August 2026, while PlayStation reached its lowest point since 2013, per Circana data.
US console hardware unit sales for Xbox are down 33% year-to-date through August 2026 compared with the same period a year earlier, while PlayStation sales are down 25%, according to Circana retail data reported by polygon.com. Both figures cover year-to-date results for that period, not the full calendar year.
The year-to-date total for Xbox is an all-time US low. For PlayStation, it is the lowest point since 2013. In August 2026 alone, Xbox unit sales fell 31% year over year, the lowest August total since 2020, and PlayStation fell 11%, the lowest August since 2013. Nintendo unit sales dropped 15% year over year in the same month.
Prices reach record highs
The average price paid for a new Xbox console through August 2026 was $529, up 26% from a year earlier and an all-time US high. The average price paid for a PlayStation console was $597, up 20% and also a record high.
Microsoft has raised Xbox Series X and Series S prices multiple times over the last year and a half, with the Xbox Series X now at $799.99, $300 more than at launch. The base PlayStation 5 went from $499 to $549.99 in August 2025 and then increased another $100 in April 2026. The Nintendo Switch 2 received a $50 price increase in September 2026.
Circana previously reported similarly weak console sales data for July 2026. RAM manufacturers Samsung, SK Hynix and Micron have shifted memory chip production toward SRAM used in AI data centers, causing a shortage of components for consumer electronics such as game consoles.
Quick answers
How much did Xbox and PlayStation US hardware sales fall in 2026?
Circana data shows Xbox unit sales down 33% and PlayStation down 25% year-to-date through August 2026, compared with the same period a year earlier.
What is the average price of a new Xbox and PlayStation console in the US?
Through August 2026, the average price paid was $529 for an Xbox console and $597 for a PlayStation console, both all-time US highs.
How did Nintendo console sales perform in August 2026?
Nintendo unit sales fell 15% year over year in August 2026, according to Circana.