Video Game Console Hardware Sales Drop 13% in US in May 2025

Decline in US Video Game Console Hardware Sales (May 2025) – PlayStation 5 Leads in Units and Dollars

Video game console hardware sales in the US continued a five-month decline in May 2025, dropping 13% compared to the same period last year, from $197 million in May 2024 to $172 million in May 2025, according to Circana. For the first five months of 2025, hardware sales were down 26% compared to the first five months of 2024. Accessory sales also decreased, falling 6% from $165 million in May 2024 to $154 million in May 2025. Cumulatively, accessory sales declined 12% over the first five months of the year. Despite these declines, total consumer spending on video game hardware, content, and accessories combined grew 1% year-over-year, reaching $4.1 billion, as reported by Circana’s Mat Piscatella. The PlayStation 5 DualSense Midnight Black wireless controller was the bestselling accessory in the United States for May, leading in both units and dollars. Among individual consoles, the PlayStation 5 maintained its lead in US sales for May 2025, increasing 3% in both units and value compared to May 2024. Conversely, Xbox Series X|S sales dropped 30%, while Nintendo Switch sales saw an even steeper 44% decline, ahead of its anticipated successor, the Switch 2.

US Quarterly PlayStation 5 Shipments Decline in Q2 2025 amidst Strong Game Sales Leadership

Mat Piscatella reported that Elden Ring: Nightreign took the top spot on the multiplatform game charts for May, followed by DOOM: The Dark Ages, Forza Horizon 5, a remastered version of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, and Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. Globally, PlayStation 5 shipments reached 77.8 million units as of March 31, 2025. However, quarterly shipments for that period dipped to 2.8 million, down from 4.5 million in the same fiscal quarter last year. Estimated console unit sales across America, Canada, and Latin America for May 2025, compiled by gaming enthusiast and author William DAngelo from VGChartz data, show the PlayStation 5 leading with approximately 269,735 units sold. The Nintendo Switch followed with about 88,067 units, and the Xbox Series X|S took third place with 86,189 units. Regarding lifetime sales in the Americas as of May 2025, the Nintendo Switch leads with 56.82 million units. The PlayStation 5 follows with 30.88 million units, and the Xbox Series X|S stands at 20.41 million units.

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