U.S. year-to-date hardware unit sales through August 2026 were down 33% for Xbox and 25% for PlayStation compared with the same period in 2025, according to Circana senior director Mat Piscatella. The figures arrived as reported U.S. prices for several current consoles climbed, but the available data do not establish that price increases caused the declines.
What the 33% and 25% declines measure
The percentages refer to U.S. hardware unit sales year to date through August 2026, compared with the same period a year earlier. They are not global results, shipment figures, revenue changes, or a measure of how much consumers spent.
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Mat Piscatella, Circana senior director and video game industry advisor, wrote in an October 11, 2026 post reproduced by Tom’s Hardware: “For 2026 YTD ending August, Xbox hardware unit sales are down 33% versus a year ago in the US, while PlayStation hardware units are 25% lower. Xbox YTD US hardware unit sales are at an all-time low, while PlayStation is at lowest point since 2013.”
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Xbox’s reported low
In Circana’s U.S. tracking series, Xbox year-to-date hardware unit sales through August were at an all-time low. The comparison is to that tracking series, not to a worldwide count of consoles sold.
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PlayStation’s historical comparison
PlayStation hardware unit sales were at their lowest point since 2013 in the same U.S. year-to-date comparison. That is a historical low relative to the period cited, not a claim that sales were lower than every year in PlayStation history.
U.S. console prices reported in October 2026
Tom’s Hardware reported the following U.S. prices on October 11, 2026. These are dated reported prices, not a guarantee of current retailer pricing or stock.
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- What's in the box: Xbox Series X console, 1 Xbox Wireless Controller - Carbon Black, Ultra High Speed HDMI cable, Power cord.
- Equipped with AMD's Zen 2 and RDNA 2 architectures, DirectX ray tracing delivers true-to-life lighting, shadows and accurate reflections to create dynamic, living worlds.
- Memory: 16GB GDDR6 w/320 bit-wide bus; Memory Bandwidth: 10 GB @ 560 GB/s, 6 GB @ 336 GB/s; Internal Storage: 1TB Custom NVME SSD
- Gaming Resolution: True 4K; Performance Target: Up to 120 FPS; High Dynamic Range: Up to 8K HDR; Optical Drive: 4K UHD Blu-Ray; HDMI Features: Auto Low Latency Mode, HDMI Variable Refresh Rate, AMD FreeSync.
- Bundled with HDMI_Cable
| Console configuration | Reported U.S. price |
|---|---|
| Xbox Series S, 512 GB | $499.99 |
| Xbox Series S, 1 TB | $599.99 |
| Xbox Series X Digital Edition | $749.99 |
| Xbox Series X, disc version | $799.99 |
| PS5 Digital Edition | $599.99 |
| PS5 with disc drive | $649.99 |
| PS5 Pro | $899.99 |
Configuration matters when comparing prices: the reported Xbox Series S models differ in storage, and the Xbox Series X and standard PS5 entries distinguish digital from disc-drive versions. The PS5 Pro is a separate model, not a like-for-like price comparison with the digital or disc-drive PS5.
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Microsoft announced a worldwide Xbox console price update on June 25, 2026, effective August 1. In its Xbox Wire announcement, the company said prices increased by US$100 for 512 GB models and US$150 for 1 TB models, and that the 2 TB model was being sunset.
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- 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.
- 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 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.
Microsoft attributed the changes to higher component costs. It said console storage and memory prices had risen by more than 2.5 times and forecast another doubling by fall 2027. Those figures and the forecast are Microsoft’s explanation, not an independently verified market analysis.
The company also said Xbox Certified Refurbished Consoles were available through Microsoft Stores for up to US$100 off MSRP. That is a maximum discount, not a guaranteed price or offer on every model; check current availability, condition, seller, and warranty before buying.
Rank #4
- What's in the box: Xbox Series S 512GB console, 1 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 FPS; HDMI Features: Auto Low Latency Mode, HDMI Variable Refresh Rate, AMD FreeSync.
Are consoles too expensive right now?
The reported prices make affordability a reasonable concern, especially when a buyer compares higher-priced configurations with lower-cost models or older hardware. Piscatella said price sensitivity was becoming a real problem, while Microsoft cited component costs in explaining its Xbox changes. Together, those statements offer context for the market but do not quantify how much any price increase affected sales.
The sales declines and higher prices occurred during the same period. The cited figures do not isolate price as the cause, show that it was the only factor, or rule out other influences. They also do not show whether revenue rose or fell: a unit-sales change alone cannot answer that question.
Quick Recap
How to use the figures when deciding what to buy
- Compare the same kind of model. Match storage and disc-drive configuration before treating two prices as directly comparable.
- Check the live offer. The prices above were reported October 11, 2026, and may differ from a retailer’s current price or availability.
- Consider refurbished hardware carefully. Microsoft described a certified refurbished option for Xbox through Microsoft Stores, with discounts of up to US$100 off MSRP. Verify the model, condition, price, and warranty attached to the specific listing.
- Separate market context from your budget. A national year-to-date sales decline does not determine whether a particular console, game library, or configuration is worth its price to an individual buyer.
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.
