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US PS5 Sales Down Almost 20% Year-Over-Year, Rounds Out Tough Month for Industry
US PS5 hardware revenue fell 19% year-on-year in June 2026, contributing to a broader 21% decline across the American games industry that month, according to Circana data. The drop was largely expected, as June 2025 had been boosted by the record-breaking launch of the Nintendo Switch 2, making this year's comparison unfavourable; Nintendo's own hardware sales fell 79% year-on-year as a result. Xbox was the only bright spot in relative terms, doubling its year-on-year sales, though it still finished last among the three platform holders overall.
On the software side, EA Sports UFC 6 topped the revenue-based charts for June, ahead of PlayStation titles including 007 First Light and LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight. Notably, the low-cost viral indie hit Meccha Chameleon (around $6) placed second, with an estimated four million units sold in the US alone. Circana's rankings now blend actual point-of-sale data with projected digital sales, which the report notes may introduce some inaccuracy into the figures.
In short
- US PS5 hardware revenue dropped 19% year-on-year in June 2026
- Decline tied to tough comparison with 2025's Switch 2 launch month
- EA Sports UFC 6 topped software charts; Meccha Chameleon a surprise second
Explained simply
Circana tracks US spending on games hardware and software, using shop sales data and estimates for digital purchases. Its figures are often used to compare how the market and different consoles perform over time.
Sony makes PlayStation, Microsoft makes Xbox and Nintendo makes Switch consoles. June 2025 was an unusually strong comparison point because the Switch 2 launched that month, lifting hardware sales; June 2026 figures therefore reflect both current demand and the absence of that launch boost.
Hardware revenue and game rankings offer different measures of the market: revenue reflects money spent, while unit sales count copies sold. Digital estimates can make rankings less precise, and a strong result for one console or game does not by itself show the overall health of the industry.