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The latest gross sales knowledge for the US online game trade has arrived, and one of many takeaways is that {hardware} gross sales proceed to slip for all main platforms–except the Switch 2, it appears.
Circana’s report for January 2026 gross sales within the US confirmed that spending on {hardware} rose by 16% year-over-year, leaping to $248 million for the month. This progress was achieved regardless of the PS5 seeing a 17% decline in spending, the Xbox Series X|S posting a 27% decline, and the unique Switch falling much more dramatically by 79% in comparison with final 12 months.
The Switch 2, it appears, was the savior for {hardware} spending in January 2026, and it did properly sufficient to offset all of these declines. Regardless of that, the Switch 2 was truly January 2026’s No. 2 prime platform for unit and greenback gross sales. The PS5 was the No. 1 general console platform in January 2026 by these metrics, even with its 17% year-over-year decline in gross sales.
It is sensible that PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and the unique Switch would see decrease year-over-year gross sales, partly due to their age. It was additionally reported not too long ago that richer households now make up nearly all of gaming {hardware} patrons within the US, suggesting extra individuals are getting priced out.
One other component that would have contributed to the general enhance in spending on sport {hardware} for January 2026 is the truth that consoles are dearer than they was attributable to tariffs, amongst different components. The PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch all acquired dearer in 2025, with consultants predicting {that a} Switch 2 worth hike is coming subsequent.
In different {hardware} information, a latest report stated Sony may delay the launch of the PS6 to 2028 or 2029 as a result of AI-fueled ongoing scarcity of reminiscence chips. AMD’s CEO, in the meantime, stated the following Xbox console may launch in 2027, however that is removed from affirmation of any sort.
In phrases of sport gross sales in January, Activision’s Name of Obligation: Black Ops 7 was the No. 1 best-selling sport within the US, extending its streak to 2 months in a row because the top-selling sport. Spending on video games grew year-over-year for January 2026, however the uptick was largely attributable to income from subscription companies.