Circana's May 2026 report lands with the usual precision: Nintendo Switch 2 reached 5.9 million units sold in the US over its first twelve months, slotting into second place for fastest-selling hardware in tracked US history behind only the Game Boy Advance's 6.5 million. The console also led both unit and dollar sales for the month itself, pushing overall hardware spending up 38 percent year-over-year to $249 million despite broader market pressures.

PlayStation 5 hardware units fell 58 percent from the prior May—the lowest May total since 2000—while Xbox Series hardware recorded its worst May on record with a 12 percent unit drop. Average prices paid for new hardware climbed to $502, with PS5 specifically up 33 percent to $672 and Xbox up 22 percent to $524, driven by component costs tied to AI demand and recent manufacturer price adjustments.

Total US video game spending hit $4.2 billion for the month, a modest 3 percent rise, largely offset by the Switch 2's contribution as competitors contend with elevated pricing and softer demand. The data underscores a market where one platform's momentum masks structural challenges across the rest of the console space.

Price sensitivity appears to be the dominant variable, with further increases anticipated from Microsoft and Nintendo later in the year.