Feature: PS5 Answers ‘Bleakest’ Month with a 22% Upswing in Sales
US PS5 sales rose in September 2026 despite a run of negative publicity and criticism aimed at PlayStation. The increase suggests that online enthusiast backlash did not prevent strong console sales, though several major games and the prospect of GTA 6 may have helped.
Circana data showed PS5 unit sales up 22% year on year, with dollar sales up 43% amid price rises and an average selling price of $646. PS5 was the only console to increase US sales and had its strongest share of industry dollar sales since May 2025; Xbox sales fell 27%, while Marvel’s Wolverine was September’s best-selling game.
In short
- PS5 US unit sales climbed 22% year on year in September.
- Dollar sales rose 43%, with an average price of $646.
- Wolverine led game sales as Xbox sales fell 27%.
Explained simply
PlayStation 5, or PS5, is Sony’s current home games console. Its sales figures are often compared with those of Microsoft’s Xbox and Nintendo’s Switch, giving retailers and the games industry a picture of demand.
Circana tracks US spending on games and consoles. Unit sales count consoles sold, while dollar sales measure the money spent; the latter can rise when prices are higher, even if the number of consoles sold changes less.
Console sales can be influenced by hardware prices, new game releases and expectations about upcoming titles. September’s best-selling game was Marvel’s Wolverine, and Grand Theft Auto VI is among the highly anticipated future releases that may affect buyers’ plans.