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Circana: US Xbox unit sales fell 33% YoY to an all-time low in 2026 through August, while PS5 sales fell 25%, as both consoles hit record high average prices (@seasonedkaan / Eurogamer․net) (Visit Techmeme dot com for the link and full context!)

Circana's Mat Piscatella warns US console market is most precarious since early 1980s, as Xbox hardware units crash 33%. 🔗 In 2026 so far, the average price paid for a new Xbox console in the US is $529, up 26% from a year ago, while the average price for a new PlayStation console is $597, up 20%. Both figures are all-time US highs; as Piscatella put it bluntly, price sensitivity is becoming a real problem.

Xbox is becoming almost entirely digital when it comes to game purchases. According to Circana data for the U.S., Xbox games have accounted for just over 4% of all new physical game sales in 2026 so far. For comparison: >Nintendo: 63% >PlayStation: 32% >Xbox: just over 4% The numbers cover physical game sales, not total game sales, so they don’t mean Xbox only has 4% of the overall software market. PlayStation still represents nearly a third of physical game sales in the U.S.

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma pointed to record Minecraft and World of Warcraft Forever sales, but Circana sees no impact from her initiatives. 🔗 "Everything they're doing seems to be getting Twitter likes from the most passionate part of their fan base, but other than that, in terms of the actual results, I'm not seeing anything right now."

Marvel’s Wolverine topped the US September 2026 sales charts, beating NBA 2K27 and EA Sports FC 27. According to Circana’s Mat Piscatella, Wolverine had the highest launch-month dollar sales for a Sony-published game since Helldivers 2 launched in February 2024. It also reached No. 11 among the best-selling games of 2026 so far. The PS5 also had a big month: >PS5 unit sales: +22% YoY >PS5 hardware dollar sales: +43% >PS5 was the best-selling console in both units and dollars >Total US gaming spending: $4.76 billion, down 1% YoY And Wolverine’s limited-edition Battle Yellow DualSense was September’s best-selling accessory in both units and dollar sales.

The US console market is in trouble, and even GTA 6 might not be enough to save it. According to Circana analyst Mat Piscatella, US hardware sales through August 2026 are down 33% for Xbox and 25% for PlayStation compared to last year. Xbox sales have hit an all-time low, while PlayStation is at its lowest point since 2013. The average Xbox console now sells for $529, up 26% from last year, while PlayStation averages $597, up 20%. GTA 6 could boost sales when it launches in November, but there’s no guarantee, especially if prices keep climbing or consoles become harder to find. “The US hardware market has not been in a more precarious position since the early 80s.”

🇺🇸BREAKING: @POTUS shared a graphic showing sharp declines in grocery prices, including olive oil down 18%, butter down 15.7%, and eggs down 90%, according to USDA data. Other items also fell, with chicken breast dropping 7%, grapes 8.4%, cheese 5.8%, oatmeal 2.2%, and tomatoes 2% between January 2025 and late September 2026. The figures come from @USDA Economic Research Service data, using Circana retail scanner information tracking multi-outlet and convenience store prices.

The U.S. console market is having a rough time. In July 2026, hardware sales fell 39% year over year, while consumer spending on games dropped 29%. The average console price reached $542, up 16% from last year. Physical game sales are also hitting new lows, Americans spent just $85 million on physical games in July, the lowest July total since Circana began tracking the market in 1995. Nintendo continues to dominate physical game sales, with around 63% of spending, compared with 32% for PlayStation and just over 4% for Xbox.