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29 Percent of All US Gamers Are Planning to Buy Grand Theft Auto 6, Says Analyst
Analyst Mat Piscatella predicts that nearly 30 percent of US gamers plan to purchase Grand Theft Auto 6, calling it a significant cultural and commercial moment for the industry. The anticipation for the title, the first new entry in the franchise since 2013, is expected to drive sales of software, hardware, and gaming subscriptions. Rockstar Games is also focusing on enhancing the in-game world's fidelity and NPC reactions for the upcoming release.
Nearly 1 in 3 gamers plan to buy GTA 6 in the US, analyst confirms: "A rare cultural and commercial moment"
An analyst from Circana confirms that 29% of US gamers plan to purchase Grand Theft Auto 6, making it the most anticipated release in their tracking history. The game is expected to drive significant sales not only for software but also for consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, as well as accessories and subscriptions.
GTA 6 Breaks A Record, And It’s Not Even Out Yet
Grand Theft Auto 6 has set a new record for purchase intent among US console and PC gamers, with nearly one in three planning to buy the game upon release. This unprecedented demand, fueled by a 13-year gap since Grand Theft Auto 5, is expected to boost sales of hardware and accessories. Despite the immense commercial anticipation, experts believe the game will not solve deeper issues within the industry.
Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake doesn't even rate against GTA 6 and Call of Duty Modern Warfare 4 as the "biggest games of the year," Activision exec says
Activision's chief marketing officer Tyler Bahl stated that Grand Theft Auto 6 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 are the biggest games of 2026, downplaying the significance of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake. While purchase intent data shows Modern Warfare 4 ahead of the Zelda remake, analyst Mat Piscatella noted that on a per-player basis, the Zelda remake's intent is higher, though GTA 6 dwarfs all other releases.
Activision executive says “no offense to Zelda,” but GTA 6 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 are the biggest games of the year
An Activision executive believes Grand Theft Auto 6 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 are the biggest games of the year, surpassing The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Data suggests Modern Warfare 4 has higher purchase intent among US players, though Zelda's figures could be impressive given the Nintendo Switch 2's smaller install base compared to other platforms.
NBA 2K27 Tops Madden NFL 27 In August, Shocking Absolutely Nobody
Circana's August 2026 report shows NBA 2K27 as the best-selling game, continuing its streak against Madden NFL 27. New releases like Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls and Star Wars Zero Company also performed well, with five new titles in the top 10. NBA 2K27 is now third in year-to-date sales, behind Resident Evil Requiem and 007 First Light, with Grand Theft Auto 6 anticipated to be a major seller later in the year.
Top 20 best-selling GameCube games of all time in the U.S. revealed
New sales data from Circana's Mat Piscatella reveals the top 20 best-selling GameCube games in the U.S., coinciding with the console's 25th anniversary. Nintendo titles dominate the list, with Super Smash Bros. Melee leading, followed by Super Mario Sunshine and Mario Kart: Double Dash. Sonic Adventure 2: Battle is the highest-ranking third-party title at number eight.
Xbox Won’t Share Digital Game Sales Data With Circana Anymore
Xbox has decided to stop sharing its digital game sales data with Circana. This move will impact gamers who closely follow sales figures and industry trends.
Best-selling games in the U.S. for July 2026 – Splatoon Raiders debuts in the top 10
Circana has released the top-selling video games in the U.S. for July 2026, with Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 leading the monthly charts. New releases Splatoon Raiders and Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream also secured spots in the top ten. The article also provides a list of the overall best-selling games for 2026 so far, with Resident Evil Requiem at the top.
US Video Game Spending Just Had One Of Its Worst Julys Ever
US video game spending experienced a significant slump in July, falling 10% year-over-year to $4.5 billion according to Circana data. Both physical software sales and hardware sales hit multi-year lows, with higher hardware prices and the anticipation of the Nintendo Switch 2 impacting console sales. Content spending also declined, primarily driven by a drop in mobile game revenue.
Gaming Hardware Spending in US for July 2026 Was The Lowest Since 2020, Says Analyst
US gaming hardware spending in July 2026 reached its lowest point since 2020, falling 29% year-on-year to $282 million, according to Circana analyst Mat Piscatella. This downturn affected all platforms, with PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch sales declining, exacerbated by a 16% increase in average hardware prices due to component shortages. Despite overall declines, the Nintendo Switch 2 led in unit sales, while Resident Evil Requiem topped software charts.
PlayStation and Xbox's most played games are, once again, exactly what you expect them to be
Analyst Mat Piscatella revealed that the most played games on PlayStation and Xbox remain dominated by long-running live service titles and annual sports games, with minimal changes year-over-year. Fortnite leads both platforms, followed by a familiar lineup including Roblox, Call of Duty, and Grand Theft Auto 5, with minor variations between the console ecosystems.
Fortnite, Grand Theft Auto 5 Continue to Top PS5, Xbox Series X/S Most-Played Charts in the US
Fortnite and Grand Theft Auto 5 continue to dominate the most-played game charts on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S in the US, according to data from Circana's Mat Piscatella. The lists are largely comprised of long-running live-service titles and annual sports games, with only a few new releases like Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls and Shift at Midnight making brief appearances in the top 20.
Halo: Campaign Evolved was the 4th most popular game on Xbox at launch in the US but only 29th on PS5, analyst says
Halo: Campaign Evolved saw a strong launch in the US, ranking fourth in daily active users on Xbox, with 8% of players engaging with the game. However, its performance was lower on PC (14th place, 2% of users) and PlayStation 5 (29th place, 1% of users). Analyst Mat Piscatella noted that while the game is a best-seller on PlayStation 5, the data highlights the challenge new titles face against established live service games.
Sony May Have the Data on Its Side, but It’s Still Losing the Digital-Only Argument
Sony's decision to move to digital-only games by 2028 has faced significant backlash, with consumers concerned about game preservation and the loss of physical media. Despite this, the company has remained largely silent, possibly anticipating the reaction and relying on declining physical sales data. The article questions the long-term viability of an all-digital future, citing potential issues with online infrastructure and the importance of physical media for certain markets and consumer preferences.
EA Sports UFC 6 and Meccha Chameleon Dominated US Software Sales Charts for June
US video game software sales in June saw EA Sports UFC 6 top the charts, followed by Meccha Chameleon. Despite strong individual game sales and upcoming releases like Grand Theft Auto 6, overall spending dropped 12 percent year-on-year, with hardware sales also experiencing a significant decline.
Xbox Sales “More Than Doubled” In June 2026 In The US, While PS5 And Switch 2 Dropped
According to Circana's latest US video game industry report, Xbox Series X|S sales more than doubled in June 2026 compared to the previous year, marking the best month of 2026 for the platform. In contrast, PlayStation 5 unit sales dropped 43% and Nintendo Switch 2 unit sales fell 78%. Despite Xbox's growth, total US hardware spending decreased by 62% to $383 million, with the Nintendo Switch 2 remaining the best-selling platform by unit and dollar sales for both June 2026 and the year-to-date.
PlayStation Ending Disc Production is “Extremely Anti-Consumer”, “Truly Ironic”, Say Analysts
Analysts are calling Sony's decision to end PlayStation disc production in January 2028 "extremely anti-consumer" and "truly ironic," predicting it will damage the industry's value and eliminate the $7.2 billion used game market. Despite Sony citing consumer trends, experts like Michael Pachter and Kazunori Ito argue it reduces consumer choice and is a "triumph of corporate convenience over consumer choice."
Just seven games: the shrinking state of physical PlayStation sales in 2026
Physical sales of PlayStation games in the US have drastically declined, with only seven titles selling over 100,000 copies since the start of 2026. This trend is exacerbated by the increasing prevalence of digital-only consoles like the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition and Xbox Series S. Sony Interactive Entertainment plans to cease production of new disc-based titles by January 2028, signaling a significant shift away from physical media.
Industry analyst reports only 7 PlayStation games 'have sold more than 100,000 physical units year-to-date' in the US, as fans demand Sony kill its plan to end the production of discs
Industry analyst Mat Piscatella reports that only seven PlayStation games have sold over 100,000 physical units in the US year-to-date, with only two selling over 10,000 in a single week. This data emerges as fans protest Sony's planned discontinuation of physical disc production in January 2028, though analysts suggest the company will not reverse its decision due to the profitability of digital sales.
