The U.S. Gaming Market: May 2026

The May 2026 U.S. gaming market shows modest overall growth, with consumer spending reaching $4.2 billion—a 3 % year‑over‑year increase driven by the launch of “007 First Light” and the Nintendo Switch 2. Cumulative spending for the first five months rose 4 % to $23 billion, while content‑related purchases grew 1 % in May to $3.8 billion, totaling $20.4 billion year‑to‑date (3 % above 2025). Console content led the rise, up 25 % YoY; PC content and subscription services also expanded by 15 % and 11 %, respectively.

Hardware sales, however, faced pressure. Total hardware spending climbed 38 % YoY to $249 million, yet the PlayStation 5 experienced a 43 % decline in dollar sales and a 58 % drop in units after recent price hikes. The Nintendo Switch 2 offset this trend, becoming the top‑selling device in May and year‑to‑date with 5.9 million units sold, the second fastest launch in U.S. history after the Game Boy Advance. Xbox Series S|X spending increased 7 % YoY, though unit sales fell 12 %. Average hardware price rose to $502 (14 % YoY), with PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series prices up 33 % and 22 %, respectively. Accessories spending grew 8 % YoY to $168 million, driven by a 95 % surge in racing wheel sales following “Forza Horizon 6” launch.

Game sales data, sourced from Circana’s projected estimates, highlight “007 First Light” as May’s best‑selling title across platforms and “Forza Horizon 6” as the second best. Resident Evil: Requiem maintained first place in five‑month sales, while mobile revenue leaders remained consistent with titles such as “Monopoly GO!” and “Candy Crush Saga.” The report draws on Circana’s consumer‑purchase tracking, supplemented by Sensor Tower mobile revenue data.