Circana’s latest report on video game sales for May 2026 reveals some rather disconcerting figures.
PS5 sales plummeted 58% compared to May 2025, marking its worst May sales month for the console since… the year 2000. Meanwhile, Xbox Series console sales fell by 12% over the month, marking the worst May in Xbox history.
Currently, console prices are a frequent topic of debate, following numerous price increases in the industry. The average price of a new console reached $502 in May, representing a 14% increase compared to last year, when the average price was $440. The price of a PS5 rose 33% year-over-year (averaging $672), and the Xbox Series X saw a 22% increase (averaging $524).
To drive the point home even further, Microsoft stated that “unfortunately, the prices of console storage and memory have more than doubled, and we expect them to double again by fall 2027.”
For those interested in even more data, Mat Piscatella, senior director at Circana, published and commented on numerous figures in a dedicated post on his Bluesky account.
It’s interesting to see how the gaming market is shifting. Sales trends can really impact the industry, and it will be fascinating to watch how companies respond to these changes. Thanks for sharing this update!