U.S. video game hardware sales plummeted 27% in November, hitting the lowest level since 2005, as PlayStation 5, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch faced record-high prices and a lack of must-have games, The Verge reported.

By yourNEWS Media Newsroom

LOS ANGELES — Video game hardware sales in the U.S. crashed to a 20-year low in November 2025, with $695 million spent—a 27% drop from 2024 and the lowest November total since 2005, according to Circana.

Units Sold Hit 30-Year Low

Only 1.6 million consoles were sold—the fewest since 1995 (1.4 million units).

Why the Decline?

  1. Record-High Prices
    • Average console price: $439 (up 11% from 2024, $204 higher than 2019).
    • PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S marked 5th anniversaries with price hikes.
  2. No Blockbuster Games
    • Delays (e.g., Grand Theft Auto VI) and “woke” content (LGBT characters) alienate gamers, Breitbart News reported.

Who Led Sales?

  • PlayStation 5: #1 in units and dollars (first time since Nintendo Switch 2 launched).
  • Nintendo Switch 2: #2 in units and dollars.
  • Nex Playground: #3 in units.
  • Xbox Series X/S: #3 in dollars.

What’s Next?

The industry hopes for a rebound in 2026, but high prices and lack of major releases remain key challenges.

“Gamers are waiting for real innovation—not just price hikes,” a retail analyst said. “Until then, sales will stay sluggish.”

Read more: The Verge.

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