U.S. consumer spending on video games climbed sharply in March 2026, reaching $5.3 billion, a 12% increase compared to the same period last year. The growth was supported by a steady flow of new releases across multiple platforms, alongside a significant rise in hardware sales.
According to data from Circana, first-quarter spending also trended upward, totaling $14.6 billion, up 5% year over year. Content spending accounted for the largest share at $4.6 billion in March, reflecting an 8% increase, while hardware delivered the most notable jump, surging 69% to $500 million.
The hardware spike was largely attributed to the continued momentum of Nintendo Switch 2, which ranked first in both unit and dollar sales for the month as well as year to date. PlayStation 5 followed in second place, posting a more modest 3% increase compared to March 2025.
On the software side, MLB The Show 26 emerged as the top-selling title of the month, leading a group of new releases that dominated the charts. WWE 2K26, Marathon, and Pokémon Pokopia also secured positions among the top five best-selling games. Resident Evil Requiem continued its strong performance, climbing into the top five best-selling entries in the franchise’s history in the U.S. based on dollar sales.
Digital purchasing trends played a key role in the month’s gains. Console content spending rose 22%, with digital premium downloads increasing 40%. PC, cloud, and non-console VR content grew 28%, while non-mobile subscription spending rose 20%.
Additional categories showed more modest movement. Accessories spending increased 5% to $252 million, with demand for cases and organizers rising sharply alongside the Switch 2. Digital at retail spending also saw a notable boost, jumping 30% year over year to $306 million, led in part by a 65% increase in Roblox-related purchases.
