Xbox hardware sales in the US have fallen to their lowest level on record, while PlayStation hardware sales have reached their lowest point since 2013, according to Circana data shared by industry analyst Mat Piscatella. For the year to date through August 2026, Xbox hardware unit sales were down 33% compared with the same period last year, while PlayStation sales fell 25%.
The figures come from Circana’s US Retail Tracking Service and point to a difficult year for console hardware. August sales also declined across all three major console manufacturers, with Xbox unit sales falling 31% year over year, PlayStation dropping 11% and Nintendo declining 15%.
Rising console prices may be contributing to the slowdown. Piscatella reported that the average price paid for an Xbox console in the US reached $529 for the year to date through August, up 26% from the previous year. PlayStation’s average hardware price rose 20% to $597, with both figures reaching record highs for the US market.
Piscatella warned that price sensitivity is becoming a growing concern for the industry. Higher prices could make consumers less willing to purchase new hardware, particularly as console sales continue to weaken.
The analyst suggested that the release of GTA VI in November could help ease some of the declines. However, he noted that the outcome will also depend on product availability amid ongoing RAM and component supply pressures, as well as pricing.
Piscatella described the US hardware market as being in its most precarious position since the early 1980s.
