Content overview: “US Console Sales Plunge to 13-Year August Low as Prices Hit Record Highs”. US video game hardware sales sank to their worst August in 13 years, with just 559,000 units sold—a 15% drop from last year and the lowest total since 2013, according to Circana analyst Mat Piscatella. PlayStation unit sales fell 11% year-over-year, Xbox plunged 31% to its lowest August since 2020, and Nintendo dropped 15%. Yet the average hardware price jumped from $476 to $541, driven by premium models like the $900 PS5 Pro, meaning higher dollar sales for Sony (up 17%) despite fewer units.
Several factors are at play: elevated console prices, market saturation for the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S after six years, and frontloaded demand from earlier 2026 price hikes that drained summer purchases. Unlike 2013, when gamers saved for upcoming PS4 and Xbox One launches, no next-gen consoles have been announced. This listing links straight to the original page, where the content is available in full.