The US console market showed a highly mixed performance in June 2026, according to the latest monthly report from Circana (formerly NPD). The only manufacturer to see year-over-year growth was Microsoft, with Xbox Series X|S sales surging 86% compared to June 2025. This marks the best month so far in 2026 for the platform, likely driven by targeted promotions and the arrival of major exclusive titles. The comparison with the previous year was favorable because Microsoft had raised the price by $50 in May 2025, which dampened demand. The current recovery suggests the market has absorbed the price hike and that commercial strategies are paying off.
Mat Piscatella, Circana analyst, noted that Xbox's surge was not enough to reverse the overall market downturn. Total US hardware spending plunged 62% to $383 million, a decline that highlights the industry's difficulty in maintaining the record levels of 2025. Despite its strong growth, Xbox Series X|S remains in third place in cumulative 2026 sales, behind Switch 2 and PS5.
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Switch 2 and PS5 drop sharply but Switch 2 remains leader
Nintendo Switch 2 saw a 78% decline in unit sales compared to June 2025. This drop was expected, as June 2025 was the launch month for Switch 2, which posted extraordinary numbers, selling millions of units in the first weeks. Despite the decline, Switch 2 remained the best-selling platform in June 2026 in both units and revenue, with a still significant market share. It continues to be the best-selling console overall in 2026 so far, ahead of PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. PlayStation 5 sales fell 43% year over year, a decline attributed to the maturity of the lifecycle and a lack of major exclusives during the period.
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In terms of hardware spending, Xbox more than doubled its revenue (growth over 100%), while Switch 2 saw a 79% decrease and PS5 a 19% decrease. These figures indicate that Xbox benefited from a higher average selling price, possibly due to bundles with games and accessories.
UFC 6 conquers June, Resident Evil Requiem dominates 2026
In software, the best-selling game in the US during June 2026 was UFC 6, which exceeded expectations with a well-timed launch. Resident Evil Requiem remains the top-selling game of 2026 so far, confirming the strength of the Capcom brand. Other titles like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom 2 continued to sell well, but did not reach the numbers of its predecessor.
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For broader context on tech and gaming industry trends, insights can be drawn from comparisons like Django vs FastAPI for Python projects, which indirectly influences gaming platforms. Additionally, authoritative external sources such as Circana's official website provide detailed sales data. The full Circana report is available to subscribers and offers further breakdowns by price tier and sales channel.
