GoKawiilUS console hardware sales plunge: Xbox down 33%, PS5 down 25% YTD
Circana analyst Mat Piscatella reported that US retail sales of Xbox consoles fell 33% year-to-date through August 2026, marking an all-time low since the brand launched nearly 25 years ago. PlayStation 5 sales fell 25% over the same period, their weakest showing since 2013. Both Microsoft and Sony have raised console prices multiple times in the past two years amid chip shortages.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
Piscatella attributes the decline partly to price sensitivity among gamers as repeated hardware price hikes make consoles less affordable. The simultaneous slump across both major platforms suggests a broader affordability problem in the console market rather than one company losing ground to a rival, though the source does not state a single definitive cause.
- Xbox hardware sales hit an all-time US low, down 33% YTD.
- PS5 sales fell 25%, the weakest since 2013.
- Both Microsoft and Sony have raised console prices $100-$150 amid chip shortages.
PlayStation 5 Slim Console — Despite the sales slowdown covered in the article, the PS5 remains a top-tier gaming machine for anyone looking to jump into current-gen gaming. With a huge library of exclusives and backward compatibility, it's still a worthwhile pick if you've been waiting for the right time to buy.
See PlayStation 5 Slim Console on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: tomshardware.com — Jowi Morales, 2026-10-11
Published there as: “Console market craters as Xbox sales crash 33% to the lowest since launch 25 years ago, PS5 sales drop 25%”
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