PlayStation 5 sees massive sales spike in the US, beating 2026 records so far as eager consumers rush to beat RAM crisis price hikes

PlayStation 5 hardware sales spiked in the United States during the week ending April 4, 2026, reaching the highest weekly sales figures of the year so far. According to Circana’s retail tracking service, US spending on video game hardware nearly doubled compared to the same week in 2025.

The surge was directly attributed to consumers rushing to purchase consoles before Sony’s announced price increases took effect on April 2. Late March saw Sony confirm significant price hikes across its console lineup, citing “continued pressures in the global economic landscape.” The PlayStation 5 base and digital versions increased by $100, while the premium PlayStation 5 Pro saw a $150 price increase, raising its retail price to $900.

Mat Piscatella, senior director and video game industry advisor at Circana, shared the sales data, highlighting the impact of looming price increases on consumer purchasing behavior. The timing created a window where consumers made impulse purchases to avoid paying higher prices, demonstrating price sensitivity in the console hardware market and the effectiveness of advance pricing announcements in driving short-term demand surges.

Sources

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