Americans are spending more on game consoles in 2025 than in August of last year, and that’s mainly due to the Nintendo Switch 2 and pricing. Hardware sales topped $312 million in the U.S. in August, up 32% from $236 million in August 2024, according to Circana. This is a huge increase, especially since sales of the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and original Switch all fell by double-digit percentage points year-over-year.
One of the main drivers is the Switch 2, which sold more than 2.4 million units in the United States in its first three months, making it the best-selling console of all time. It surpasses the PlayStation 4 (the previous record holder) by five percent after three months. And compared to the original Switch, the Switch 2 is absolutely crushing – outpacing its predecessor by 77% at this point in its lifecycle.
Consumer spending on gaming consoles in the United States totaled $2.9 billion for the year, up 20% from last year. But while the number of consoles sold increased 6.5% year-over-year, prices rose 12.3%, accounting for the bulk of the increase in spending. A 512GB Xbox Series S started the year at $299.99 and is now $399.99. The all-digital Series X started at $449.99 and is now up to $599.99. Likewise, all PlayStation 5 models have seen their price increase by $50.
Despite the surge in prices, consumers are not yet afraid. But, while $799.99 for a 2TB Xbox Series X in Galaxy Black is hard to swallow, we haven’t quite reached Neo Geo prices yet. This handheld debuted at $649.99 in 1990, or about $1,500 today. The bar is therefore quite high.
Tim BontempsOctober 9, 2025, 11:46 a.m. ETCloseTim Bontemps is a senior NBA writer for ESPN.com who covers the league and…
Former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Dr. Ben Carson, recently named National Nutrition Advisor at the U.S. Department of…
Federal employees and annuitants are heading into another year of sharp increases in their health insurance premiums, both under the…
A federal judge on Thursday (Oct. 9) dismissed Drake's defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar's "Not Like…
10/9: CBS Morning News - CBS News Watch CBS News Israel and Hamas agree to first phase of Gaza peace…
New York Attorney General Letitia James speaks during a news conference January 8, 2025 in New York. Michael M. Santiago/Getty…