November 2025 saw the worst video game hardware and software sales in 30 years in the US, with hardware spending dropping 27% and unit sales hitting their lowest since 1995, driven by high prices and declining demand across major consoles like Xbox Series, PS5, and Nintendo Switch.
The Nintendo Switch 2 set an all-time US launch sales record with over 1.1 million units sold in its first week, surpassing the PS4, driven by strong sales of Mario Kart World, which was purchased by 79% of buyers, and achieving over 3.5 million units sold globally in four days.
The Nintendo Switch 2 is launching soon, but the excitement feels muted due to its similarities to the original Switch, limited upcoming game releases, a higher price point of $450, and increased game prices, which collectively dampen the usual buzz for such a major hardware release.
Sales of the Nintendo Switch family of systems have surpassed the Wii in the United States, with the release of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom contributing to the boost in hardware sales. The Nintendo Switch now trails the Xbox 360 by less than one million units and the PlayStation 2 by fewer than five million units in lifetime sales.
In March 2023, the PlayStation 5 has sold 35.94 million units, while the Xbox Series X|S sold 21.35 million units, with the PS5 leading by 14.59 million units. The PS5 has a 62.7% market share, while the Xbox Series X|S has a 37.3% market share. The PS5 outsold the Xbox Series X|S by 8.88 million units in the last 12 months, and the gap grew in favor of the PS5 by 1.51 million units in the latest month.
In March 2023, the Xbox Series X|S has sold 21.35 million units in 29 months, while the Xbox One sold 20.40 million units in the same period. The Xbox Series X|S is currently ahead by 0.95 million units. The Xbox One crossed 30 million in month 46, 40 million in month 61, and 50 million in month 81. The Xbox One has sold 51.26 million units lifetime. The Xbox Series X|S is 29.91 million units behind lifetime Xbox One sales.
In March 2023, the PS5 has sold 13.63 million units in the US, while the PS4 sold 13.50 million units in the same period. The PS5 has outsold the PS4 by 0.75 million units in the last 12 months, and the gap between the two consoles grew in favor of the PS5 by 0.34 million units in the latest month. The PS5 is currently ahead of the PS4 by 0.13 million units, but it is still 21.32 million units behind lifetime PS4 sales in the US.