US Hardware Sales Hit 13-Year August Low as NBA 2K27 Tops Charts
Circana reports 559,000 consoles sold in August 2026, down 15% year-over-year, with Xbox falling 31% to its lowest August since 2020.
US video game hardware sales totaled 559,000 units in August 2026, down 15% year-over-year and the lowest August figure in 13 years, according to Circana analyst Mat Piscatella.
Every major platform posted declines. PlayStation unit sales fell 11% year-over-year, Nintendo fell 15%, and Xbox fell 31% to its lowest August total since 2020. Despite the unit drop, Sony's dollar sales grew 17% year-over-year.
The average hardware price rose from $476 in 2025 to $541 in 2026. Piscatella also noted that August 2013, the previous 13-year low, recorded 423,000 units sold.
Software and spending
NBA 2K27 was August's best-selling game, followed by Madden NFL 27 in second. Elden Ring placed seventh, up from 41st in July.
Total content spending fell 10% year-over-year to $3.8 billion, and year-to-date content spending slipped 2% to $32.2 billion. Mobile spending dropped 18% and console spending fell 7%, while PC gaming spending grew 13% with subscription purchases up 3%.
Spending on new physical software rose 5% year-to-date to $738 million, with Switch 2 Game-Key Card releases up 631%.
Quick answers
How many video game consoles were sold in the US in August 2026?
559,000 units, according to Circana analyst Mat Piscatella. That is the lowest August total in 13 years and a 15% decline year-over-year.
What was the best-selling game in August 2026?
NBA 2K27 was the month's best-selling game, with Madden NFL 27 in second place.
How much did Xbox hardware sales fall in August 2026?
Xbox unit sales declined 31% year-over-year, the lowest August total since 2020.