PlayStation Hardware Sales Hit Lowest Point Since 2013 in US, and PS5’s Price Is the Problem
PlayStation’s US hardware sales have hit their lowest point in over a decade, marking a significant challenge for Sony despite recent dollar sales growth in August. According to Circana’s latest data, PlayStation console sales are down 25% year-over-year across 2026, making it the worst year for the platform since 2013—when the aging PS3 was being phased out before the PS4’s successful launch.
The core issue appears to be pricing. The PS5’s average selling price has reached nearly $600, reflecting the high cost of the current generation console. This pricing strategy, while possibly capturing some premium market segments, has not translated to sustained hardware growth. Though August saw the PS5 record dollar sales gains, it was the only major console to achieve this metric.
The broader US console market is in distress. Xbox has experienced an all-time low in sales, while the industry overall faces its most challenging period since the 1980s, according to Circana analysts. Record-high console prices across the board appear to be a significant barrier to hardware adoption, as consumers face economic pressures and may opt for alternative gaming platforms or postpone their purchases.
The situation reflects broader challenges facing the traditional console market in 2026. While the PS5 remains the strongest performer among home consoles, even Sony’s advantage cannot insulate it from the sector-wide downturn driven by expensive hardware pricing at a time when consumers are increasingly cost-conscious.