The US video game sales data for May 2026 are out, and we now know that PlayStation has experienced its worst May for hardware sales since 2000.
The PlayStation 5 has easily been one of the biggest contenders, especially in hardware sales, only falling behind the Switch 2 at times. However, it seems that the price increase has not helped the company, as it has experienced its worst May hardware sales since 2000.
PlayStation Experiences the Worst May Since 2000 for Hardware Sales
According to the latest sales data from Matt Piscatella, players have received updates on PlayStation’s hardware sales for May 2026. Overall hardware spending increased this month, but the growth was primarily driven by the Switch 2, which offset a significant 43% decline in PlayStation 5 spending and a 58% drop in unit sales, both attributed to recent price increases. This marks the lowest hardware unit sales for PlayStation in May since May 2000.
The Switch 2 has become the best-selling hardware platform for both units and dollars in May and year-to-date for 2026. The PlayStation 5 ranks second in both measures and time periods. The sudden dip in unit sales for PlayStation hardware is due to the latest price increases, which reflect changes in the costs of the PS5 disc drive, digital, and PS5 Pro.
Piscatella also disclosed that the average price of a new unit of video game hardware reached $502 in May, a 14% increase over the previous year’s average of $440. In May 2026, the average price for a PlayStation 5 rose by 33% from the previous year, reaching $672, while the average price for an Xbox Series increased by 22%, reaching $524.
What are your thoughts on PlayStation’s May 2026 hardware sales? Leave your thoughts down in the comments, and join the official Insider Gaming Discord server.
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