Sales Decline for PlayStation and Xbox
The recent decision by Sony and Microsoft to raise the prices of their gaming consoles has had a significant negative impact on sales volumes. Recent data from the United States reveals that May 2026 was the worst month for both PlayStation and Xbox in the last 25 years.
Rising Hardware Costs and New Trends
Interestingly, despite the drop in units sold by these two gaming giants, overall spending on gaming hardware has sharply increased. This surge is largely attributed to the rising prices of consoles and the popularity of the new Nintendo Switch 2.
Record Low Sales and Market Analysis
According to analyst Mat Piscatella from the market research firm Circana, May 2026 recorded the lowest unit sales for PlayStation in the U.S. since May 2000, months prior to the iconic PS2 launch. Similarly, the Xbox line also faced its worst May sales on record.
Factors Behind the Market Slowdown
The primary cause of this sluggish market is the aggressive new pricing strategy. The rising costs of consumer hardware are not without reason. The massive development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) data center facilities worldwide has disrupted the supply chain for storage and RAM components.
Experts predict that the scarcity and high costs of memory components will not improve until 2028. Major memory manufacturers, such as Micron, have recently decided to freeze their contract prices for the next five years.
Unique Market Anomalies
In an interesting twist, while Xbox unit sales decreased by 12% year-over-year, the significantly higher console prices resulted in a 7% increase in total customer spending for the brand. Overall hardware spending in the U.S. skyrocketed by 38%. The standout performer in these figures is the Nintendo Switch 2, which cleverly postponed its $50 price increase until September, making it the most appealing option for consumers.
Nintendo Switch 2's Success
May 2026 also marked the conclusion of the first year for the Nintendo Switch 2 on the market, with estimated total sales reaching 5.9 million units. This figure positions it as the second-fastest-selling handheld console in U.S. history since records began in 1995, only slightly behind the legendary Game Boy Advance at 6.5 million units.
Looking Ahead
Looking forward, Piscatella predicts that May 2026 may signal the last annual increase in hardware spending for some time. The continued threat of rising prices is likely to deter consumers from purchasing consoles until the holiday season, when the anticipated launch of Grand Theft Auto VI is expected to significantly boost demand and deplete market supplies.
Source: https://inet.detik.com/games-news/d-8552819/harga-meroket-penjualan-ps5-anjlok-terburuk-dalam-25-tahun
