Despite the successful launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 earlier this year, US video game hardware sales for November 2025 plummeted to levels not seen since 1995. Market reports from Circana indicate that while newer hardware is available, rising costs and economic factors have significantly chilled consumer spending during the peak holiday season.
Historically Low Performance
30-Year Low: Total hardware unit sales reached only 1.6 million units, the lowest for a November month since 1995 when sales hit 1.4 million during the transition between the SNES and the original PlayStation.
Spending Slump: Monthly hardware spending fell to $695 million, a 27% decrease from November 2024 and the lowest spending total for the month in 20 years.
Rising Costs: The average price of a console reached an all-time high of $439 in November, an 11% increase year-on-year that has priced many consumers out of the market.
Platform Performance Breakdown
PlayStation 5: Remained the top-selling console in both units and dollar sales for November 2025, despite a 40% year-on-year decline in sales volume.
Nintendo Switch 2: Ranked second in sales. While it has moved over 10 million units globally since June, the lack of holiday bundles and a $449 price point limited its momentum compared to the original Switch launch.
NEX Playground: In a surprise turn, this system took the third spot in total units sold, outperforming Xbox hardware in volume during mid-November.
Xbox Series X/S: Performance hit an all-time low for Microsoft, with unit sales falling 70% year-on-year. Rising prices and a lack of hardware refreshes contributed to the decline.
Economic Pressures and Software Trends
The RAM Crisis: Skyrocketing prices for DRAM, which have effectively doubled since the fall, are threatening further console price increases in 2026.
Tariff Impact: US government tariffs on electronics have forced multiple price hikes for Xbox and PlayStation hardware throughout 2025, further discouraging new buyers.
Software Leader: Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 was the best-selling game of the month, though its dollar sales were lower than previous entries. Battlefield 6 remains on track to be the top-selling title of the year overall.
Subscription Growth: While physical sales and hardware struggled, subscription spending saw a 16% increase, suggesting a shift in how players are accessing content during a difficult economy.
Would you like me to find the latest pricing for the NEX Playground at major retailers?
Sources: IGN, Nintendo Life
0 comments:
Post a Comment