A Nightmare November for Video Game Console Sales: The Big Three Drop in the U.S.

The video game console market in the United States experienced a significant downturn in November 2025, with all three major manufacturers—Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo—reporting declines in unit sales compared to the same period in 2024. According to data from the sales tracking firm Circana, hardware spending for the month fell to $695 million, a 27% decrease from the $949 million recorded in November 2024. This represents the lowest dollar amount for a November since 2005, while the 1.6 million total units sold marked the lowest volume for the month since 1995.

The decline was broad, affecting all major platforms. Xbox Series unit sales dropped by more than 70%, PlayStation 5 sales fell by over 40%, and combined sales of the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 were down more than 10% compared to the previous year. Analysts attribute these poor results largely to rising costs for consumers, noting that the average price of a console increased by 11% year-over-year. This upward pressure on pricing is linked to a combination of factors, including recent manufacturing shifts from China to Vietnam in response to heavy tariffs and rising costs for memory chips.

Despite the overall market contraction, some niche hardware performed well, with the NEX Playground motion-control console notably outselling the Xbox during the Black Friday period. While the hardware sector struggled, software sales remained anchored by major titles, with Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 emerging as the highest-grossing game of the month. The industry continues to navigate a challenging economic environment characterized by persistent price hikes and supply chain volatility.