Xbox Sales Are Its Lowest Ever This Month, PlayStation Its Lowest Since 2000
Console wars shift as Xbox and PlayStation hit record-low sales while Nintendo Switch 2 reverses the trend
Velocity
How fast coverage is spreading — measured hourly from article rate × source diversity. How this works →
The brief
PlayStation and Xbox consoles recorded their lowest May sales in over two decades, according to multiple industry reports. Coverage attributes the decline to sustained price increases and shifting consumer preferences. Nintendo’s Switch 2, meanwhile, helped drive a rare year-on-year rise in US physical game spending—marking the first such increase since 2009.
Outlets including *Forbes*, *IGN*, and *GamesIndustry.biz* highlight the stark contrast: while Sony and Microsoft’s hardware struggles, Nintendo’s hybrid console appears to be gaining traction. Analysts cited in reports note the broader trend of declining console sales across the industry, though Nintendo’s performance stands out as an exception. Watch for potential pricing adjustments from Sony and Microsoft, as well as further data on Nintendo’s market share growth.
Coverage does not yet specify whether the sales slump extends to digital sales or third-party game performance on affected platforms.
Synthesized by headlinez.news from the headlines below under a strict no-invention contract. ✓ fact-checked: all claims supported by sources Updated just now.
Quick answers
Are these sales figures for hardware only or include games?
Coverage specifies hardware sales for PlayStation and Xbox, while Nintendo’s Switch 2 is linked to increased physical game spending in the US.
Which console saw the steepest decline?
PlayStation’s May sales hit their lowest since 2000, while Xbox’s May sales were its lowest ever recorded.
Is this a global trend or limited to the US?
The reports focus on US data, but Nintendo’s Switch 2’s impact is noted as a regional outlier.
Coverage (5)
- PlayStation and Xbox Console Sales Collapse Following Damaging Price Rises IGN · 3h ago
- Circana: Nintendo Switch 2 helped US physical game spending increase year-on-year for first time since 2009 GamesIndustry.biz · 3h ago
- The Nintendo Switch 2 Helped Drive US Video Game Spending Growth in May 2026, while PlayStation and Xbox had their Worst May in Over Two Decades Wccftech · 3h ago
- PlayStation Hardware Crashes to Lowest May Numbers in 25 Years Insider Gaming · 3h ago
- Xbox Sales Are Its Lowest Ever This Month, PlayStation Its Lowest Since 2000 Forbes · 3h ago
Topics
Related trends
Nintendo Switch 2 ends first full year in the U.S. at nearly 6 million units sold, second fastest-selling video game system
Nintendo Switch 2 concludes its first year in the U.S. as the second fastest-selling video game system in history, despite broader market declines.
Star Fox Review: Can't quite teach an old Fox new tricks
Nintendo’s *Star Fox* remake splits critics: a nostalgic triumph or a misfire for Switch 2?
Star Fox Nintendo Switch 2 reviews roundup
Nintendo’s *Star Fox* remake on Switch 2 sparks nostalgia and debate—is it a triumph or just another throwback?
Prime Day has some solid deals on Switch 2, PS5, and Xbox games
Prime Day 2026 spotlights Nintendo Switch 2 as a must-buy before rumored price increases
Sonic Frontiers: Definitive Edition finally announced for Nintendo Switch 2, out now, trailer
Sonic Frontiers: Definitive Edition has launched on the Nintendo Switch 2, following reports of physical copies surfacing at retail locations.
JSAUX's New 6-In-1 Switch 2 Dock Is... A Lot
Third-party accessory manufacturers are unveiling new docking stations for the Nintendo Switch 2, emphasizing expanded functionality and portable design.