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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →U.S. Xbox hardware unit sales fell 33% year over year and PlayStation hardware sales fell 25% in the year to date through August 2026, according to Circana figures reported by GamesIndustry.biz. Xbox reached an all-time low in Circana’s tracked U.S. series; PlayStation was at its lowest level since 2013. Those figures cover U.S. hardware sales through August—not worldwide sales, software, or the full calendar year.
What the 2026 sales figures measure
The declines are comparisons of U.S. console hardware units sold year to date through August 2026 against the same period in 2025. They do not mean that every Xbox or PlayStation model fell by the same amount, and they are not global totals. Circana’s historical comparison places Xbox at an all-time low in its tracked U.S. series and PlayStation at its lowest point since 2013.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Xbox Series S | Digital Gaming Console | 512GB SSD | $498.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Xbox Series X | Disc Gaming Console | 1TB SSD | $798.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Xbox One Console 500GB - Matte Black (Renewed) | $164.89 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
X Box Series S All-Digital Console | $498.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Xbox One S, 1TB Console (Renewed) | $217.70 | Buy on Amazon |
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The headline’s “25 years since launch” wording is not supported by these figures. The reported historical benchmark is an all-time low in the tracked series, not a claim that Xbox sales are at their lowest since the original console launched.
How Xbox and PlayStation compare
| Measure | Xbox | PlayStation |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. hardware unit sales, year to date through August 2026, year over year | Down 33% | Down 25% |
| Historical point in Circana’s tracked U.S. series | All-time low | Lowest since 2013 |
| Average U.S. price paid, year to date through August 2026 | $529, up 26% year over year | $597, up 20% year over year |
Figures in the table are Circana’s U.S. year-to-date results through August 2026, as reported by GamesIndustry.biz. The price figures are aggregate average prices paid for new consoles, not prices for a specific model or current retailer offers. They do not show that every buyer paid those amounts.
#1 Best Overall
- BEST VALUE IN GAMING — Experience next-gen speed and performance in the smallest XBOX ever. The XBOX Series S delivers powerful all-digital gameplay in a sleek, compact design.
- UP TO 120 FPS GAMEPLAY — Enjoy smooth, responsive gaming with frame rates up to 120 FPS, powered by XBOX Velocity Architecture, a custom NVMe SSD, and DirectX Raytracing for a heightened level of realism.
- 512GB CUSTOM SSD AND XBOX VELOCITY ARCHITECTURE — Reduce load times dramatically with the custom 512GB NVMe SSD and XBOX Velocity Architecture, enabling lightning-fast performance and seamless world streaming.
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- FOUR GENERATIONS OF DIGITAL GAMES — Play thousands of digital games from XBOX Series X|S, XBOX One, XBOX 360, and Original XBOX with backward compatibility. Many titles are enhanced for better visuals and performance. Smart Delivery ensures you always get the best version for your console.
Why console sales are under pressure
Higher prices are a contributing factor, but the available figures do not establish that price increases alone caused the year-to-date declines. In its July U.S. market update, Circana linked higher hardware prices—amid RAM and component challenges—to weaker PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series selling rates. Circana senior director Mat Piscatella told GamesRadar: “Both prices are at all-time US highs. Price sensitivity is becoming a real problem.”
That context is consistent with consumers becoming more cautious as average prices rise, but the reported data do not quantify how much of the decline is attributable to price or isolate other causes.
Rank #2
- FASTEST, MOST POWERFUL XBOX — Experience next-generation performance with 12 teraflops of processing power, delivering smoother gameplay, richer worlds, and faster responsiveness than any previous XBOX.
- TRUE 4K GAMING UP TO 120 FPS — Enjoy breathtaking visuals with true 4K resolution, HDR, and frame rates up to 120 FPS, plus hardware-accelerated ray tracing for a heightened level of realism.
- 1TB CUSTOM SSD AND XBOX VELOCITY ARCHITECTURE — Reduce load times dramatically with the custom 1TB NVMe SSD and XBOX Velocity Architecture, enabling lightning-fast performance and seamless world streaming.
- QUICK RESUME — Seamlessly switch between multiple games and resume exactly where you left off. No more waiting through title screens and loading bars.
- FOUR GENERATIONS OF GAMES — Play thousands of games from XBOX Series X|S, XBOX One, XBOX 360, and Original XBOX, with many titles enhanced for better visuals and performance on XBOX Series X.
July’s market decline is a separate comparison
Circana’s July 2026 results are a one-month comparison, not the year-to-date-through-August figures above. U.S. video-game hardware spending reached $282 million in July, down 29% year over year. Unit sales fell 39%, while the average new-hardware selling price rose 16% to $542. Against July 2025, PS5 units were down 6%, Xbox Series units were down 18%, and Switch 2 units were down 51%, according to Circana’s Games Market Dynamics update.
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The unusually strong Switch 2 launch in June 2025 affects year-over-year comparisons, Circana said. That matters especially when interpreting the sharp July 2026 Switch 2 decline: it is measured against a period following a record-setting launch, not against an ordinary month.
Rank #3
- Experience the next generation in entertainment with the Microsoft Xbox One games console
- Powerful hardware provides stunning, true-to-life graphics
- Play with millions of other gamers across the web with Xbox Live
- Jump seamlessly between your favourite game, TV show or movie
- Includes a Wireless Controller
Sales trends differ by country and time period
U.S. results should not be treated as a worldwide trend. In a separate U.K. comparison, PS5 sales rose 24% year over year in September 2026, while Xbox Series X|S sales fell 29%. Those figures cover the U.K. and a single month, August 23 through September 26, based on Nielsen IQ data reported by VGChartz. They do not contradict Circana’s U.S. year-to-date numbers; they measure a different market and period.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the numbers mean for buyers
A sales slump does not automatically mean a particular console is cheaper. Circana’s average prices describe what buyers paid across new hardware during a defined period, not what a specific retailer is charging now. To assess an offer, compare the exact model and configuration, including disc or digital edition and storage, along with its current price and availability.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Access your favorite entertainment through apps like YouTube, Netflix, and more
- Watch 4K Blu-ray movies and stream 4K video on Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, Microsoft Movies & TV, and more
- Play with friends and family near and far—sitting together on the sofa or around the world on Xbox Live, the fastest, most reliable gaming network
- Xbox One games and accessories work together
- Bring your games and movies to life with immersive audio through Dolby Atmos and DTS:X
Rank #4
- What's in the box: Xbox Series S 512GB console, 1 Xbox Wireless Controller, High Speed HDMI cable.
- CPU: 8X Cores @ 3.6 GHz (3.4 GHz w/SMT) Custom Zen 2 CPU; GPU: 4 TFLOPS, 20 CUs @1.565 GHz Custom RDNA 2 GPU; SOC Die Size: 197.05 mm2.
- Memory: 10GB GDDR6 128 bit-wide bus; Memory Bandwidth: 8GB @ 224 GB/s, 2GB @ 56 GB/s.; Internal Storage: 512GB Custom NVME SSD
- Gaming Resolution: 1440p; Performance Target: Up to 120 FP.
- HDMI Features: Auto Low Latency Mode, HDMI Variable Refresh Rate, AMD FreeSync.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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