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.