May marked a difficult month for both PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S hardware sales in the United States, with unit sales dropping significantly compared to the previous year. Despite this slump, overall video game hardware spending saw a 38% increase year-over-year, according to data from Circana.
PlayStation 5 units sold in May decreased by 58% compared to May 2025, leading to a 43% drop in console spending. This marks the lowest number of PlayStation consoles sold by Sony in May since the original PlayStation was the company's sole offering in the US market back in May 2000. Meanwhile, Xbox Series X|S unit sales fell by 12% year-over-year, representing the worst May performance for the platform since its debut in November 2001.
Interestingly, Microsoft experienced a 7% increase in hardware spending despite the decrease in units sold. This rise is likely attributable to price increases implemented on Xbox consoles over the past year. Circana's data indicates that the average price for both PlayStation and Xbox hardware has climbed by 33% and 22%, respectively, over the last year. These sustained price hikes appear to be impacting consumer purchasing decisions for new consoles, even during a month that saw the release of high-profile titles such as "007 First Light," "Forza Horizon 6," and "Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight."
The overall increase in hardware spending was significantly bolstered by the continued success of the Nintendo Switch, which Circana estimates has sold 5.9 million units in North America. This performance helped to offset the declines experienced by Sony and Microsoft. When video game sales and accessories are factored in, total consumer spending in the gaming market increased by 3% year-over-year for May. Analysts suggest that the current hardware growth may not continue for an extended period, citing the combination of elevated pricing and the ongoing sales impact of the Nintendo Switch.