The PlayStation 5 has officially overtaken the PlayStation 3 in lifetime U.S. sales, marking a significant milestone for Sony’s current-generation console. The news comes from Circana’s latest U.S. video game market report for September 2025, which highlights strong overall growth across hardware, software, and subscription segments.
According to Circana’s industry analyst Mat Piscatella, total U.S. video game spending reached $4.8 billion for the month, representing a 10 percent increase compared to the same period last year. The American gaming market has experienced growth for the fifth consecutive month, indicating a steady recovery and expansion after a slower sales cycle last year. This increase can be attributed to several key factors, including the release of major new titles, higher spending on hardware, and the ongoing popularity of subscription-based content.
Hardware performance showed especially positive results, with total spending rising 24 percent year-on-year to $324 million. While the Nintendo Switch 2 once again dominated both units and dollar sales for the month, the PlayStation 5 maintained second place across both measures. Despite declining year-on-year percentages for Sony’s and Microsoft’s platforms, Switch 2’s strong momentum helped offset the overall drop in older hardware categories.
Most notably, Piscatella confirmed that the PlayStation 5 has now surpassed the lifetime installed base of the PlayStation 3 in the United States—a notable achievement given that PS5 is only in its fifth year on the market. The PlayStation 3, released in 2006, had sold around 30 million units in the U.S. over its lifespan. Although Sony’s latest console continues to trail the PlayStation 4 globally, its domestic performance indicates stable demand amid an increasingly competitive market shaped by cross-platform releases and subscription services.
On the software front, content spending climbed 11 percent year-over-year to $4.3 billion. Non-mobile subscriptions saw the strongest growth at 32 percent, followed by a 12 percent increase in console content and a 4 percent gain in mobile spending, according to data provided by Sensor Tower. Accessory spending, however, dropped 10 percent compared to last year, totaling $197 million for the month.
The month’s top-selling title was Borderlands 4, which debuted as the number one game in September and quickly rose to become the third best-selling title of 2025 year-to-date. Circana reported that the game’s launch-month dollar sales were nearly 30 percent higher than those of Borderlands 3, setting a new franchise record. Borderlands 4 was also the top performer on both Xbox and PC platforms.
Other major releases contributing to September’s strong market performance included NBA 2K26, EA Sports FC 26, Madden NFL 26, and Ghost of Yotei, all of which debuted within the top five. Ghost of Yotei, developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment, recorded sales comparable to 2020’s Ghost of Tsushima despite releasing in a different hardware environment. Piscatella noted that the PS4’s much larger install base and the unique conditions surrounding Tsushima’s launch in mid-2020 make Yotei’s performance particularly impressive.
In a response to concerns about the title’s sales momentum, Piscatella wrote that anyone expressing doubt “should be looked at with a side eye,” highlighting that Ghost of Yotei performed “basically flat” compared to its predecessor during its first week in the U.S. market. Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier also pointed out the difference in pricing, noting that Yotei launched at $70 compared to Tsushima’s $60 debut.
Elsewhere in the charts, Helldivers II, Silent Hill: f, and Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles all secured positions within the top ten, signaling robust consumer interest across a diverse range of genres. Nintendo’s Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 collection also appeared in the top 20, though its digital sales were not included in the ranking.
Year-to-date figures show NBA 2K26 leading overall U.S. software sales for 2025, followed by Monster Hunter: Wilds and Borderlands 4. The inclusion of Ghost of Yotei and Helldivers II in the annual top twenty reflects a strong year for PlayStation-published titles, while Microsoft continues to perform well with The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered and Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.
Total year-to-date hardware spending reached $3.2 billion, up 20 percent from the same period in 2024, though still slightly below the $3.7 billion recorded through September 2023. The market’s growth trajectory, bolstered by new-generation titles and the ongoing rollout of the Switch 2, suggests that both console and content spending remain on a positive trend heading into the holiday season.
