According to Circana data for the US market, hardware unit sales for Xbox dropped by 33% year-to-date through August 2026 compared to the previous year. PlayStation hardware unit sales saw a 25% decline over the same period. Xbox sales have reached an all-time low, while PlayStation figures are at their lowest point since 2013.
Console manufacturers have implemented significant price increases due to chip shortages. Microsoft raised Xbox prices three times in two years. The Xbox Series S now costs $499.99 for the 512GB model and $599.99 for the 1TB version. The Xbox Series X Digital Edition is priced at $749.99, with the disc version reaching $799.99.
Sony also increased PlayStation prices by $100 to $150. The base Digital Edition PS5 costs $599.99, and the disc version is $649.99. The PS5 Pro is priced at $899.99, while the PlayStation Portal now costs $249.99. Refurbished PS5 Slim consoles are now $399, and secondary market prices for refurbished PS5 Pro units have reached $1,399 at GameStop.
Market analysts attribute the retail downturn to the combination of rising living costs and price sensitivity among consumers. Despite the current decline, industry expectations remain focused on the upcoming holiday season and the November release of GTA VI as potential catalysts for a market recovery.
