✈ GameSky
US Video Game Spending Just Had One Of Its Worst Julys Ever
🎮 PlayStation, Xbox, Multi-platformNews
#Gaming,News

US Video Game Spending Just Had One Of Its Worst Julys Ever

GameSpot » All News RSS Feed✍ Darryn Bonthuys⏱ 7 min read(about 5 hours ago)

Overview & Key Takeaways

After a few solid months, it looks like video game spending hit a slump in July. That's according to new data by Circana, with the analyst firm saying that total video game spending in the US fell 10% year-over-year in July to $4.5 billion. New physical software sales also hit an all-time July low of $85 million--since tracking began in 1995 by Circana--and hardware sales dropped to their lowest July level since 2020. According to Circana, higher hardware prices driven by the components crisis have had a significant impact on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S console sales, and year-over-year metrics continue to suffer against the record-breaking June 2025 launch of the Nintendo Switch 2.

"July video game hardware spending fell 29% when compared to a year ago, to $282 million, the lowest total for a July month since 2020 ($163 million)," Video Games at Circana senior director Mat Piscatella explained in the report. "Total hardware unit sales fell 39% versus July 2025, while the average selling price of a new unit of video game hardware jumped by 16%, to $542.  Unit sales were down on all console platforms when compared to a year ago. PlayStation 5 unit sales fell 6% versus July 2025, while Xbox Series dropped 18% and Switch 2 declined by 51%."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92NCgo5zce0

The PS5 still led the July hardware market in dollar sales, while the Switch 2 sold the most units overall last month. Having been on the market for 14 months, the Switch 2 is outselling the original Switch by 11% over the same period. Circana also noted that for the 2026 year-to-date period, physical game sales for PlayStation consoles accounted for 32% of total US consumer spending, while spending on physical games for Nintendo hardware sat at 63%.

In terms of content, spending fell 9% in July when compared to a year ago, to $4.1 billion. Circana noted a decline in spending on mobile games as the primary driver of this drop, alongside a decrease in spending on console and PC games. For the video game highlights, Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 was the best-selling game of July in dollar sales, thanks to a PS5/PS4 port of it and its predecessor. EA Sports College Football 27 was July’s second-best-selling individual title in full-game dollar sales.

Monopoly Go also experienced a surge in popularity--thanks mostly to a crossover with The Simpsons, and was the biggest game when it came to consumer spending. Pokemon Go also hopped several places upward in the top ten on the back of its anniversary celebrations. "Pokemon Go was the biggest mover, climbing to third during its 10th anniversary month," Sensor Tower's Bryan Isagholian added. "Niantic ran boosted XP events, anniversary-themed Pokemon, and follow-up events through July, alongside larger real-world activations like Go Fest and a Times Square Mega Mewtwo raid. Revenue rose +230% month-over-month."

Resident Evil Requiem is still the best-selling game in the US for 2026, but it could drop a few places soon. As we draw closer to the busy holiday season, sports games like NBA 2K27 and AAA releases like Call of Duty usually emerge as the year's best-sellers. On top of that, early sales for GTA 6 are looking impressive, reportedly bringing in $400 million before the game's launch in November.

Top 10 Best-Selling US Video Games (July 2026)

Based on combined physical and full-game digital dollar sales (7/5/2026 – 8/1/2026). Excludes mobile games and digital add-on content.

  1. Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 (Previous Rank: 67)
  2. EA Sports College Football 27 (New)
  3. Assassin's Creed: Black Flag: Resynced (New)
  4. EA Sports MVP Bundle (2026) (New)
  5. Call of Duty: Black Ops (Previous rank: 150)
  6. Halo: Campaign Evolved (New)
  7. Splatoon Raiders (New)
  8. Echoes of Aincrad: Sword Art Online (New)
  9. Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream (Previous Rank: 6)
  10. 007 First Light (Previous Rank: 3)

Top 10 Best-Selling US Video Games to date in 2026

Based on combined year-to-date physical and full-game digital dollar sales. Excludes mobile games and digital add-on content.

  1. Resident Evil: Requiem (Previous Rank: 1)
  2. 007 First Light (Previous Rank: 3)
  3. Crimson Desert (Previous Rank: 2)
  4. MLB: The Show 26 (Previous Rank: 4)
  5. Call of Duty: Black Ops II (Previous Rank: 130)
  6. Forza Horizon 6 (Previous Rank: 5)
  7. Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream (Previous Rank: 7)
  8. Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight (Previous Rank: 6)
  9. Pokemon: Pokopia (Previous Rank: 8)
  10. EA Sports College Football 27 (Rank: New)

After a few solid months, it looks like video game spending hit a slump in July. That's according to new data by Circana, with the analyst firm saying that total video game spending in the US fell 10% year-over-year in July to $4.5 billion. New physical software sales also hit an all-time July low of $85 million--since tracking began in 1995 by Circana--and hardware sales dropped to their lowest July level since 2020. According to Circana, higher hardware prices driven by the components crisis have had a significant impact on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S console sales, and year-over-year metrics continue to suffer against the record-breaking June 2025 launch of the Nintendo Switch 2.

"July video game hardware spending fell 29% when compared to a year ago, to $282 million, the lowest total for a July month since 2020 ($163 million)," Video Games at Circana senior director Mat Piscatella explained in the report. "Total hardware unit sales fell 39% versus July 2025, while the average selling price of a new unit of video game hardware jumped by 16%, to $542.  Unit sales were down on all console platforms when compared to a year ago. PlayStation 5 unit sales fell 6% versus July 2025, while Xbox Series dropped 18% and Switch 2 declined by 51%."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92NCgo5zce0

The PS5 still led the July hardware market in dollar sales, while the Switch 2 sold the most units overall last month. Having been on the market for 14 months, the Switch 2 is outselling the original Switch by 11% over the same period. Circana also noted that for the 2026 year-to-date period, physical game sales for PlayStation consoles accounted for 32% of total US consumer spending, while spending on physical games for Nintendo hardware sat at 63%.

In terms of content, spending fell 9% in July when compared to a year ago, to $4.1 billion. Circana noted a decline in spending on mobile games as the primary driver of this drop, alongside a decrease in spending on console and PC games. For the video game highlights, Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 was the best-selling game of July in dollar sales, thanks to a PS5/PS4 port of it and its predecessor. EA Sports College Football 27 was July’s second-best-selling individual title in full-game dollar sales.

Monopoly Go also experienced a surge in popularity--thanks mostly to a crossover with The Simpsons, and was the biggest game when it came to consumer spending. Pokemon Go also hopped several places upward in the top ten on the back of its anniversary celebrations. "Pokemon Go was the biggest mover, climbing to third during its 10th anniversary month," Sensor Tower's Bryan Isagholian added. "Niantic ran boosted XP events, anniversary-themed Pokemon, and follow-up events through July, alongside larger real-world activations like Go Fest and a Times Square Mega Mewtwo raid. Revenue rose +230% month-over-month."

Resident Evil Requiem is still the best-selling game in the US for 2026, but it could drop a few places soon. As we draw closer to the busy holiday season, sports games like NBA 2K27 and AAA releases like Call of Duty usually emerge as the year's best-sellers. On top of that, early sales for GTA 6 are looking impressive, reportedly bringing in $400 million before the game's launch in November.

Top 10 Best-Selling US Video Games (July 2026)

Based on combined physical and full-game digital dollar sales (7/5/2026 – 8/1/2026). Excludes mobile games and digital add-on content.

  1. Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 (Previous Rank: 67)
  2. EA Sports College Football 27 (New)
  3. Assassin's Creed: Black Flag: Resynced (New)
  4. EA Sports MVP Bundle (2026) (New)
  5. Call of Duty: Black Ops (Previous rank: 150)
  6. Halo: Campaign Evolved (New)
  7. Splatoon Raiders (New)
  8. Echoes of Aincrad: Sword Art Online (New)
  9. Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream (Previous Rank: 6)
  10. 007 First Light (Previous Rank: 3)

Top 10 Best-Selling US Video Games to date in 2026

Based on combined year-to-date physical and full-game digital dollar sales. Excludes mobile games and digital add-on content.

  1. Resident Evil: Requiem (Previous Rank: 1)
  2. 007 First Light (Previous Rank: 3)
  3. Crimson Desert (Previous Rank: 2)
  4. MLB: The Show 26 (Previous Rank: 4)
  5. Call of Duty: Black Ops II (Previous Rank: 130)
  6. Forza Horizon 6 (Previous Rank: 5)
  7. Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream (Previous Rank: 7)
  8. Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight (Previous Rank: 6)
  9. Pokemon: Pokopia (Previous Rank: 8)
  10. EA Sports College Football 27 (Rank: New)
Share:
✈ Read Original at GameSpot » All News RSS Feed← Back to All News

More in PlayStation, Xbox, Multi-platform

GTA 6 Has Already Made $400 Million+ From Preorders, Apparently🎮 PlayStation, Xbox, Multi-platform

GTA 6 Has Already Made $400 Million+ From Preorders, Apparently

According to a third-party research company, GTA 6(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/grand-theft-auto-6-everything-we-know/1100-6503729/) has already brought in more than $400 million in revenue from preorders. Sensor Tower's sales tracker for GTA 6(https://sensortower.com/grand-theft-auto-VI/sales-tracker) states that Rockstar sold 4.38 million copies, including any returns, through August 18, generating $429 million. The research firm said the sales mix is 77% PS5 and 23% Xbox Series X|S. This data is not confirmed, but it would not be a surprise to learn that GTA 6 is performing exceptionally well already given the massive hype behind it. Preorders began on June 25 for the $80 standard edition and $100 Ultimate Edition. According to Rockstar owner Take-Two, preorder numbers for GTA 6 are unprecedented in the video game industry(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gta-6-preorders-are-unprecedented-across-the-industry-take-two-claims/?utmsource=dlvr.it&utmmedium=facebook), though the company declined to share an official figure(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gta-6-preorder-numbers-wont-be-revealed-because-they-could-be-misleading-take-two-ceo-says/). So far, more people are preordering the game's $100 edition(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gta-6-could-have-had-an-even-higher-price-as-100-edition-proves-popular/). GTA 6 preorder numbers are expected to climb higher still, as experts believe the majority of preorders will come in the last week or so before launch(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gta-6-preorders-alone-could-pay-for-production-budget-expert/). One analyst has said GTA 6 could achieve 25 million preorders by launch, and that would work out to about $2 billion in revenue(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gta-6-preorders-alone-could-pay-for-production-budget-expert/). That's enough to cover the game's development budget and the majority of marketing expenses. GTA 6’s proper marketing campaign has not begun yet–fans can expect it to kick off with the August 27 trailer on Netflix(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/netflix-gta-6-exclusive-seems-doomed/). Following multiple delays, GTA 6 releases on November 19 for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. The standard edition could have been even more than $80(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gta-6-could-have-had-an-even-higher-price-as-100-edition-proves-popular/), but Take-Two's Strauss Zelnick said the company wanted the game to be in reach for most people. For comparison, GTA 5 launched at $60 back in 2013. That same $60 is equivalent to about $85 today due to inflation.

🎮 GTA🎮 GTA 6
GameSpotNewsabout 23 hours ago
$1,000 Consoles Could Have This Dramatic, Negative Effect On Gaming – Report🎮 PlayStation, Xbox, Multi-platform

$1,000 Consoles Could Have This Dramatic, Negative Effect On Gaming – Report

While we don't exactly know when the next PlayStation and Xbox consoles will arrive, the working theory is that they may come with a $1,000 price tag attached. An analytics firm is suggesting, however, that should this happen, Microsoft and Sony would be shooting themselves in the foot and costing their business billions by 2031. According to an August 17 breakdown(https://www.ampereanalysis.com/report/the-1000-next-gen-problem-why-sony-and-microsoft-need-a-new-console-strategy), the market-research firm Ampere Analysis has published an examination of the $1,000 console price consideration. The group said that if Microsoft and Sony launched "conventionally designed, incrementally improved next-generation consoles" in 2028 that ran your wallet that eye-watering $1,000 price tag, the PlayStation 6(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ps6-is-still-a-mystery-to-sony-including-when-its-coming-out/) and Xbox Project Helix(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-project-helix-could-be-a-make-or-break-moment-for-microsoft/1100-6538757/) would see a 38% lower sales rate in the first five years as compared to the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S over the same period. Such a slow adoption rate would ultimately cost the console games and services market $3.4 billion by 2031 if $1,000 systems become a thing, according to Ampere Analysis' estimation. And considering that the Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S have all seen multiple price increases(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ps5-xbox-and-switch-2-heres-how-their-prices-have-changed-since-launch/) in recent months due to the ongoing chip shortage(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-chip-shortage-is-coming-for-your-games/1100-6538293/), a $1,000 PlayStation or Xbox isn't out of the realm of possibility anymore. The Steam Machine is over $1,000 already(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-internet-has-some-thoughts-on-the-steam-machines-1000-price/). The market-research firm did suggest three possible solutions for how Microsoft and Sony could avoid a $1,000 console:: 1. Stay the course with "incrementally improved next-generation consoles," but "delay the launch of the next generation beyond the end of 2028, extending the lifecycle of current consoles." That way, both companies can monitor the chipageddon situation. 2. Aim for the 2028 release window, but reduce prices by leveraging "heavier hardware subsidies, new monetization models, more aggressive digital content strategies, and optimized sales channels" to recoup lost costs. 3. Ditch the modest upgrade and opt to "substantially innovate on hardware form factor and use cases, placing less emphasis on graphical improvement" to differentiate the current-gen from the next-gen consoles better while keeping prices low. Think of the Wii here. Whatever the decision ends up being, Ampere Analysis is urging Microsoft and Sony not to release consoles that cost that much. Otherwise, console gaming may be a much tougher sell(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/there-is-no-reason-to-buy-another-playstation-or-xbox/) for consumers.

GameSpotNews1 day ago
Sega's 84-Hour Open-World Masterpiece Has Aged Like Fine Wine🎮 PlayStation, Xbox, Multi-platform

Sega's 84-Hour Open-World Masterpiece Has Aged Like Fine Wine

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth had plenty of opposition from other big-ticket RPGs when it launched in 2024. If you missed it, now's the time to play.

🎮 Metaphor🎮 Elden Ring
PolygonNews2 days ago
← Back to GameSky Home