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Circana

All articles tagged with #circana

Subscriptions drive US video game spend up 3% in January, Circana finds
business7 days ago

Subscriptions drive US video game spend up 3% in January, Circana finds

Circana reports US video game spending rose 3% year over year in January to $4.3B, led by a 23% jump in non-mobile subscription services ($596M). Hardware spend climbed 16% to $248M, with Nintendo Switch 2 helping offset declines for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. In software, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and NBA 2K26 topped the Top 20, Madden NFL 26 rose, Battlefield 6 fell, and Final Fantasy VII Remake jumped into the Top 10 after new Switch 2 and Xbox Series X|S versions. Mobile content dipped overall.

FFVII Remake Intergrade Surges to No. 2 on January 2026 US Nintendo Charts (Switch 2)
business7 days ago

FFVII Remake Intergrade Surges to No. 2 on January 2026 US Nintendo Charts (Switch 2)

Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade for Switch 2 debuts at No. 2 in Circana's January 2026 US Nintendo platform charts, behind Pokémon Legends: Z-A and ahead of Donkey Kong Bananza, with FF7R rising from 225th in December to 9th in January due to the Switch 2/Xbox release; Pokémon Legends: Z-A fell to 16th. Hardware spending rose 16% year over year, with Switch 2 spending offsetting declines across PS5, Xbox Series, and the older Switch, while PS5 still led hardware overall. The article also notes a Switch 2 release date for Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and mentions a Switch 2 demo and review link.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Leads US 2026 Sales Through January, GTA 6 on the Horizon
business10 days ago

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Leads US 2026 Sales Through January, GTA 6 on the Horizon

Circana's January 2026 US sales data place Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 at the top of 2026 so far, with NBA 2K26, Madden NFL 26, Minecraft, and Battlefield 6 rounding out the top five; Code Vein II was the sole January 2026 new release at No. 11, Final Fantasy VII Remake jumped on Switch 2 and Xbox Series X|S, GTA 6 lands November 19, 2026, and overall software spending rose 3% YoY to $4.3B, driven by a 23% rise in gaming subscriptions.

US video game spending set to hit $62.8B in 2026, driven by Switch 2 and GTA 6
business13 days ago

US video game spending set to hit $62.8B in 2026, driven by Switch 2 and GTA 6

US video game spending is forecast to rise 3% to $62.8 billion in 2026 per Circana, led by Switch 2 sales, Grand Theft Auto 6, and growth in subscriptions, with the possibility of topping the 2021 high of $61.7 billion; hardware might face headwinds from higher component costs, while GTA 6 and other major titles are expected to boost software and accessories, and rumors of a PS6 delay to 2028–2029 reflect memory/storage constraints.

Black Ops 7 Drags Call of Duty to 17-Year US Sales Low
business1 month ago

Black Ops 7 Drags Call of Duty to 17-Year US Sales Low

Circana’s 2025 US software sales data show Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 finishing the year at fifth in dollar sales—the franchise’s lowest position since 2008’s World at War—despite December’s top spot, with Game Pass likely curbing traditional sales and competing titles like Battlefield 6, NBA 2K26, Borderlands 4, and Monster Hunter Wilds outperforming it; Activision denied any drastic rethinking of the series.

Switch 2 Dominates US Holiday Sales with 4.4M, Doubling Switch 1 Pace
business1 month ago

Switch 2 Dominates US Holiday Sales with 4.4M, Doubling Switch 1 Pace

Circanaul December 2025 US sales report shows Nintendo Switch 2 leading the hardware market in both units and dollars, with total US Switch 2 sales at 4.4 million and nearly doubling the calendar-aligned installed base of the original Switch. The Switch 2 is the fastest-selling hardware platform in tracked history and sits about 35% ahead of the PlayStation 4ree pace after seven months on the market, while the Switch Pro Controller was 2025ree top-selling accessory, helping offset declines across other platforms.

"Alan Wake 2: Sales, Reviews, and Expectations"
gaming2 years ago

"Alan Wake 2: Sales, Reviews, and Expectations"

The absence of Alan Wake 2 from Circana's sales charts is not indicative of poor sales, but rather a lack of data reporting. Circana does not have access to data on every game sale, particularly from publishers like Nintendo and Epic Games. However, Ampere Analysis estimates that Alan Wake 2 sold around 850,000 copies on consoles alone by the end of November. While this may seem low for a highly anticipated AAA game, it is comparable to the first-year sales of Remedy's previous title, Control. The absence of a physical release for Alan Wake 2 may have saved Remedy money, and word-of-mouth could contribute to its long-term success.

"Hogwarts Legacy Surpasses Call of Duty as Best-Selling Game in 2023"
gaming2 years ago

"Hogwarts Legacy Surpasses Call of Duty as Best-Selling Game in 2023"

Hogwarts Legacy is poised to dethrone Call of Duty as the best-selling game of the year in the US, according to Circana's monthly report on video game sales. While Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 was the best-selling game in November, Hogwarts Legacy has been outselling it consistently and could end the year as the top seller. This would mark the first time since 2008 that a game other than Call of Duty or a Rockstar title claimed the number one spot. The decline in hardware sales is also noted, with all three current generation consoles experiencing a decline of over 20% in dollar sales compared to last year. However, the situation is expected to level off in early 2024.

"Hogwarts Legacy" Dominates 2023 Game Sales, Activision Blizzard Holds Strong
gaming2 years ago

"Hogwarts Legacy" Dominates 2023 Game Sales, Activision Blizzard Holds Strong

According to Circana's sales rankings, Hogwarts Legacy is currently outselling Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, making it the best-selling game of 2023 so far. While Modern Warfare 3's sales are reportedly down from the previous year, it is important to note that it has only been a couple of weeks since its release, while Hogwarts Legacy has been available since February. Other notable games on the list include Tears of the Kingdom for Nintendo and Marvel's Spider-Man 2 for Sony. Activision has three games in the top 10, and Microsoft's Starfield has also performed well despite being available on Xbox and PC Game Pass. However, Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Final Fantasy XVI seem to have lower sales than expected.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe's Six-Year Streak in U.S. Top 20 Games Comes to an End
gaming2 years ago

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe's Six-Year Streak in U.S. Top 20 Games Comes to an End

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has fallen out of the top 20 best-selling games in the United States for the first time since its release in 2017. The game had maintained its position in the top 20 for 78 consecutive months, but was pushed out in October due to a surge of new releases. However, it remains Nintendo's best-selling Switch title and is expected to make a comeback soon.

"Starfield Dominates September 2023 Game Sales in the U.S."
gaming2 years ago

"Starfield Dominates September 2023 Game Sales in the U.S."

According to sales data from Circana, Bethesda Game Studios' Starfield was the best-selling game in the US for September 2023, despite being available on Xbox Game Pass. The PlayStation 5 was the top-selling console for the month, followed by Xbox Series consoles. Starfield's success highlights the impact of Microsoft's acquisition of ZeniMax Media, and its long lifespan is expected to make it a staple for Xbox players in the coming years.

The Surprising Sale: One New Wii U Sold in September 2023
gaming2 years ago

The Surprising Sale: One New Wii U Sold in September 2023

According to analyst Mat Piscatella, one new Wii U was sold in the US in September, marking the first sale since May 2022. Despite the console's troubled history and discontinuation, the lucky buyer will have access to exclusive games not available on the Nintendo Switch. The Wii U struggled with third-party support and fell behind competitors like the PS4 and Xbox One, leading to the successful transition to the Nintendo Switch.

September's Mystery Buyer: Unveiling the New Wii U Owner
gaming2 years ago

September's Mystery Buyer: Unveiling the New Wii U Owner

In a surprising turn of events, a brand-new Wii U was recently purchased, despite the console being discontinued for six years and Nintendo shutting down its online store. The sale was reported by Mat Piscatella, a video game industry analyst at Circana, indicating that it wasn't a purchase from a reseller or eBay. It is speculated that a smaller retailer, not primarily focused on gaming, still had the Wii U in stock due to inventory control issues. This occurrence is not unprecedented, as similar instances of rare purchases have been reported in the past.

Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Reigns Supreme in May 2023 Game Sales
gaming2 years ago

Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Reigns Supreme in May 2023 Game Sales

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is the second best selling game of 2023, behind Hogwarts Legacy, and the best selling game of May 2023, based on physical sales alone. The game's digital sales are not included in the numbers, indicating that it sold exceptionally well. U.S. consumer spending on video games increased by 12% in May 2023 compared to May 2022, with spending on software reaching its highest May total since 2014. Nintendo Switch was the best selling platform in May 2023, while Sony's PlayStation 5 leads the overall 2023 hardware market.