New sales data from research firm Circana reveals that PlayStation 5 unit sales plunged 58% in May 2026 compared to a year ago, while Xbox console sales hit their lowest May total on record. The declines come amid significant price increases for both consoles over the past year.
PlayStation 5 Sales Drop Sharply
Hardware spending for PlayStation 5 consoles fell 43% in May 2026 versus the same month in 2025, with unit sales down 58%. The drop followed a price increase that took effect in early April. According to Circana's Mat Piscatella, PlayStation hardware sales reached their lowest May total since 2000.
Xbox Hits New Low
On the Xbox side, hardware spending actually grew 7% year-on-year, attributed to a price hike implemented in October 2025 in the US. However, unit sales fell 12%. Piscatella noted that Xbox console sales were the lowest ever recorded for a May month.
Average Console Prices Surge
The average price paid for a video game console in the US reached $502 (£380) in May, up 14% year-on-year. The PlayStation 5 average price increased 33% to $672 (£508), while the Xbox Series X/S average price rose 22% to $524 (£396).
Nintendo Switch 2 Offsets Declines
Overall hardware spending in May grew 38% to $249 million (£188 million) compared to a year ago, driven by the Nintendo Switch 2 and the higher prices. The Switch 2 was the month's best-selling console in both units and dollars, and has sold 5.9 million units since its launch in June 2025. It is the second fastest-selling console in US history (since 1995), trailing only the Game Boy Advance, which sold 6.5 million units in its first year.
Software Sales Highlights
In software, 007 First Light topped the May best-sellers list, followed by Forza Horizon 6, Lego Batman: Legacy Of The Dark Knight, and Subnautica 2. Another new entry in the top 10 was Yoshi And The Mysterious Book at number eight. 007 First Light also debuted at number four on the year-to-date best-sellers list, behind Resident Evil Requiem, Crimson Desert, and MLB: The Show 26.
Outlook for PlayStation and Xbox
While console sales typically decline over a format's lifecycle, these record lows for May—and for Xbox, the lowest ever—signal potential trouble for the console business. Analysts suggest that sales may not improve until the launch of Grand Theft Auto 6 in November 2026. Meanwhile, a worldwide price hike for the Switch 2 is set for September 2026, which could impact Nintendo's momentum.
