Xbox simply had its worst Could on file by way of {hardware} unit gross sales, whereas PlayStation 5 fell to its lowest Could 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 Could, whereas Xbox Sequence {hardware} models fell by 12%.
Total spending on sport {hardware} really elevated by 38% when in comparison with a 12 months 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 really grew 7% in comparison with a 12 months in the past.
Notably, the typical worth paid for a brand new unit of online game {hardware} reached $502 in Could, which is up 14% in comparison with a 12 months in the past ($440). Final month, the typical worth of a PlayStation 5 console elevated by 33% versus a 12 months in the past to $672, with Xbox Sequence up 22%, to $524.
Nintendo Swap 2 was once more the best-selling {hardware} platform in each models and {dollars} for Could and 2026 year-to-date, and reached the tip of its first 12 months 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 Could’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 Could ranked fifth year-to-date.
Within the newest large worth improve for gaming {hardware}, Microsoft introduced earlier this week that Xbox consoles will quickly price between $100 and $150 extra.
Beginning August 1, 2026, the most cost effective Sequence X 1TB mannequin with out a disc drive will retail for $749.99, whereas the most cost effective 512GB Xbox Sequence S mannequin will now price $499.99. Which means that an Xbox Sequence X disc-drive mannequin now prices $300 greater than it did at launch in 2020, whereas the Sequence S is 50% costlier.
In a press release, Xbox blamed the value will increase on “the present parts disaster” impacting the patron 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.
