Xbox simply had its worst Might on report by way of {hardware} unit gross sales, whereas PlayStation 5 fell to its lowest Might since 2000, as customers really feel the influence of accelerating costs.
That’s in line with Circana’s newest video video games gross sales report, which means that PlayStation 5 unit gross sales declined by 58% in comparison with final Might, whereas Xbox Collection {hardware} models fell by 12%.
General spending on sport {hardware} truly elevated by 38% when in comparison with a yr in the past ($249M), however this was propped up by Nintendo Swap 2. PS5 spending was down 43%, pushed by current worth will increase, whereas Xbox {hardware} spending truly grew 7% in comparison with a yr in the past.
Notably, the common worth paid for a brand new unit of online game {hardware} reached $502 in Might, which is up 14% in comparison with a yr in the past ($440). Final month, the common worth of a PlayStation 5 console elevated by 33% versus a yr in the past to $672, with Xbox Collection up 22%, to $524.
Nintendo Swap 2 was once more the best-selling {hardware} platform in each models and {dollars} for Might and 2026 year-to-date, and reached the top of its first yr with a US put in base of 5.9M models.
Nintendo Swap 2 is the 2nd fastest-selling online game {hardware} in US tracked historical past, behind solely the Sport Boy Advance (6.5M).
007 First Mild was Might’s primary title in full sport greenback gross sales, debuting because the 4th best-seller of 2026 year-to-date. Forza Horizon 6 was the 2nd best-selling sport of the month and completed Might ranked fifth year-to-date.
Within the newest huge worth enhance for gaming {hardware}, Microsoft introduced earlier this week that Xbox consoles will quickly value between $100 and $150 extra.
Beginning August 1, 2026, the most affordable Collection X 1TB mannequin with out a disc drive will retail for $749.99, whereas the most affordable 512GB Xbox Collection S mannequin will now value $499.99. Which means an Xbox Collection X disc-drive mannequin now prices $300 greater than it did at launch in 2020, whereas the Collection S is 50% dearer.
In an announcement, Xbox blamed the worth will increase on “the present parts disaster” impacting the buyer electronics business, which has seen all three main console producers increase costs considerably.
“Sadly, console storage and reminiscence costs have elevated by greater than 2.5x, and we anticipate one other doubling by the autumn of 2027,” Microsoft stated.
Earlier this week, Valve confirmed its Steam Machine would retail for over $1,000 – a worth level some analysts later speculated could be “the ground” for next-gen consoles anticipated to reach from 2027.
