PS5 and Xbox Series X Sales Decline in May

PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S saw a significant drop in unit sales in May, according to new data from Circana.

According to Circana Senior Director Mat Piscatella, May's US Video Game Market Notes highlighted a decline in sales for both the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. Sony experienced a 58% decrease in PS5 unit sales compared to May 2025, with a 43% year-over-year drop in console spending. This marked the lowest number of PlayStation consoles sold in May since 2000. On the other hand, Xbox units sold dropped by 12% between May 2025 and May 2026, the worst May performance since the Xbox's launch in 2001.

Despite the decline in sales, Microsoft saw a 7% year-over-year growth in hardware spending, attributed to recent price increases on Xbox consoles. The average prices of PlayStation and Xbox hardware have risen by 33% and 22%, respectively, impacting consumer purchasing decisions. The Nintendo Switch 2's success, estimated to have sold 5.9 million units in North America, helped offset the poor performance of the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Overall hardware spending increased by 37% between May 2025 and May 2026, with a 3% year-over-year increase in video game sales and accessories.

Piscatella mentioned on Bluesky that May 2026 could be the last month with hardware growth for a while, citing pricing and the Switch 2 launch as potential challenges ahead.