According to a monthly analysis by Circana, May 2026 was the worst-selling year in the history of the Xbox mainframe, while PlayStation was not much better, with its May sales reaching the lowest level since 2000.
The reasons for this are also simple, as well as the data from Circana show that the average sale price of the game host hardware in May amounted to $502, an increase of 14 per cent over the same period ($440 in the same period last year). The average selling price of PS5 increased by 33 per cent to $672 per year, while the average selling price of Xbox Series increased by 22 per cent to $524.
Surprisingly, this round seems to be more favourable to Xbox. Although sales of Xbox Series hardware decreased by 12 per cent each year, hardware expenditure increased by 7 per cent each year (although data for the same period last year were not bright). PlayStation experienced a further decline over the past year, with expenditure falling by 43 per cent and sales falling by 58 per cent each year.
In an interview with Kotaku, Circana analyst Mat Piscatella said, “The volume of hardware sold in Xbox in May is also at an all-time low, so I think we can say the results … the mixed? Xbox is currently in third place in the hardware sales of the main manufacturer, and is significantly different from other manufacturers. However, sales increased in May, despite a decline in sales, owing to higher profits per Xbox mainframe.”
At the same time, Nintendo Switch 2 is among the highest in sales and sales and remains the best-selling host this year (PS5 is the second highest on all indicators).
Switch 2 sold 5.9 million in the first year of the United States, the second fastest-selling host in the history of the United States, followed by 6.5 million GBAs in the first year. Matt Piscatella cautioned that the outlook for Switch 2 was “perhaps less optimistic” given the general impact of the price hike on hardware sales, although it is noteworthy that the price of Switch 2 would not rise from the initial offer until 1 September.
With regard to the game, 007: The First Splash was launched last month, making it the largest game in the United States in May. According to the Circana monthly report, it was also the best-selling game on the PlayStation platform in May and became the fourth best-selling game since 2026.
Followed by Extreme Race: Horizon 6, it was also the best-selling game of the Xbox and PC platforms in May, and is now the fifth best-selling game this year. Lego Batman: The Legacy of the Dark Knights is the third best-selling game in May and the seventh best-selling game so far this year. Deep Sea Convey 2 is the fourth best-selling game in May (but not into the top ten of this year to date).
Yoossi and The Unimaginable Map is the eighth-time first-time tour to the top 10 in May. The new statistical methodology for Circana includes the estimated sales of games for which complete data are not yet available. This month, it was not just ” Yoossi ” , but it was also ” 007: At first dawn ” , ” Deep Sea Lost 2 ” , ” Friends Collection: Dream Life ” (fifth) this month, ” Red Desert ” (seventh) this month, and ” Mariosaic World ” (ten) this month.
Biochemical Crisis 9: The Spirit remains the best-selling game this year, followed by the Red Desert.
Matt Piscatella points out that after the release of the Legion of Treasures: The Circle of Old Ages on Switch, the first week came to the eleventh place on the list of heavenly platforms, while Directive 8020 ranked 16th on PlayStation and 12th on Xbox.