U.S. spending on video-game content, hardware and accessories fell 9% year over year to $4.3 billion in August 2026, according to Circana data reported by The Fly via TipRanks and Twisted Voxel. At the same time, NBA 2K27 ranked as the month’s best-selling game by full-game dollar sales. That is a strong result for one sports title—not evidence that the entire sports-game genre grew.
How much did U.S. video-game spending fall in August?
Circana data reported by The Fly via TipRanks and Twisted Voxel put U.S. spending across video-game content, hardware and accessories at $4.3 billion in August 2026, down 9% from August 2025. This is a total-market dollar figure, not a count of games sold or consoles shipped.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
NBA 2K27 - PlayStation 5 | $66.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
NBA 2K26 - PlayStation 5 | $15.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
PS5 NBA 2K23 MICHAEL JORDAN Edition | $59.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
NBA BOUNCE - PlayStation 5 | $19.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
NBA 2K21 - PS5 | $26.99 | Buy on Amazon |
Hardware units fell separately
August hardware sales were reported at 559,000 units, 15% below the same month a year earlier and the lowest August unit total since 2013, according to The Fly via TipRanks. That unit count measures hardware volume; it is not the same measure as the $4.3 billion in combined spending.
Which game sold best in August?
NBA 2K27 was reported as August’s top game by full-game dollar sales, according to Circana data cited by Twisted Voxel. The game entered early access on August 26, so its reported first-place monthly ranking came despite arriving late in the month. It ranked third in year-to-date game sales at that point.
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- THE CITY: Put The City on your back and lead a new era of MyPLAYERs fueled by basketball. Let your passion power your unique style on and off the court, team up with friends to form a Crew, and dominate the courts at The REC, Park, and beyond.
- MyCAREER: Create a MyPLAYER and experience a legacy-defining story in MyCAREER, where you’ll be tested on your path to becoming the greatest player of all time. Shatter expectations, compete against legends of the sport, and leave your mark on NBA history.
- POWERED BY ProPLAY: Master your skills with lifelike gameplay animations directly translated from real NBA action. Use an array of ProPLAY features to cook defenders with ankle-breaking crossovers, show off your range with enhanced shooting mechanics, and become a matchup nightmare every time you step on the court.
- MyTEAM: Collect your favorite NBA and WNBA stars with ease and build a fantasy squad for the ages. Grow your collection and assemble endless lineup combinations; take control of your MyTEAM and put it to the test in single-player and multiplayer modes.
Other named premium games among August’s top sellers included Star Wars: Zero Company, Halo: Campaign Evolved, Mario Kart World and Splatoon Raiders. The reported figures identify NBA 2K27 as the leading game; they do not provide a complete sports-game-only chart or establish how the sports genre performed as a whole.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the rankings do—and do not—measure
A game’s full-game dollar-sales rank and the industry’s total spending figure answer different questions. The former ranks individual games by their reported full-game sales; the latter combines spending across content, hardware and accessories. Circana’s official monthly chart page, authored by Mat Piscatella, explains chart-specific definitions and notes that some charts may include digital sales projections. Its accessible monthly page covers July, not the August figures summarized here.
Rank #2
- POWERED BY ProPLAY: Dominate every possession with immersive technology that directly translates NBA footage into realistic gameplay. Feel more connected to every dribble and crossover with revamped size-ups and experience fast-paced, dynamic movement with all-new ProPLAY features.
- SQUAD UP IN THE CITY: Build a transcendent MyPLAYER and climb the competitive ranks to reach the pinnacle of NBA stardom in an all-new MyCAREER journey. Team up with friends in a stunning, streamlined City, earn recognition and increase your REP, and battle rival squads for Park supremacy.
- UNITE STARS IN MyTEAM: Collect and compete with past and present legends of the game in MyTEAM. Assemble a star-studded roster, put your dream team to the test in new single-player and multiplayer modes, and acquire new cards to make your MyTEAM fantasy a reality.
- YOUR TEAM, YOUR STORY: Lead an NBA franchise as a General Manager in MyNBA. Choose from all 30 teams, experience 30 unique MyGM storylines with real-world inspiration, and chase the ultimate goal: to win a championship. Influence the future of the sport and leave an indelible mark on the league.
The August statistics and rankings above are therefore best read as figures attributed to Circana by secondary coverage, rather than as numbers independently confirmed here against an original August Circana release. Within that qualification, August presents two distinct signals: lower total U.S. market spending and a standout monthly result for NBA 2K27.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- PS5
Rank #4
- FUN & EASY HOOP PLAY: Players of any age and level can learn the basics and play in style as they shoot, dunk, and block.
- CO-OP ON THE COURTS: Shoot hoops with family and friends and amp up the challenge with up to 4 players.
- PRACTICE YOUR MOVES: Choose your game mode and work on your lay-ups in Training, compete in a Full Season or Party playing Ball Pop and more.
- MASCOT MAYHEM: Jump into the shenanigans with your favorite team mascot in Party Mode.
- BUILD YOUR PERFECT LINEUP: Choose an Eastern or Western Conference team and design your players from the hair to the sneakers and funky trails.
Rank #3
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