Sony’s PlayStation 5 was the best-selling console in the United States in January 2026, leading both unit and dollar sales, according to the latest Circana report. Nintendo Switch 2 ranked second across both measures, contributing to a broader rise in hardware spending during the month.
Total U.S. video game spending reached $4.7B in January 2026, representing a 3% increase compared to $4.559B in January 2025. Growth was primarily driven by a 23% surge in subscription spending and a 16% increase in hardware sales. Those gains were enough to offset a 5% decline in accessories spending.
Hardware spending climbed to $248M, up from $213M year over year. While PlayStation 5 led the market in both units sold and total revenue, it experienced a 17% decline compared to January 2025. Xbox Series systems fell 27% year over year, and the original Nintendo Switch dropped sharply by 79%.
Nintendo Switch 2, however, played a significant role in boosting overall hardware revenue, offsetting the declines seen across other platforms. Its second-place finish in both unit and dollar sales signals strong early performance in the U.S. market.
On the software side, content spending rose 3% to $4.3B. Subscription growth again proved decisive, while console content increased 2% and PC content edged up 1%. Mobile spending dipped slightly by 1%.
Call of Duty Black Ops 7 held the top spot on the overall software chart for the second consecutive month and ranked first on PlayStation platforms. NBA 2K26 and Madden NFL 26 followed in second and third place. Final Fantasy VII Remake saw a notable surge, jumping from 225th place in December to ninth overall in January following the release of new Switch 2 and Xbox Series versions.
Overall, January’s results reflect a hardware market in transition, with PlayStation 5 maintaining leadership even amid year-over-year declines, while Switch 2 emerges as a key growth driver early in its lifecycle.
