Mat Piscatella
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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.
New Hunger Games Movie Comes Out The Day After GTA 6, But Is The Director Scared?
The new Hunger Games movie, Sunrise on the Reaping, is set to release on November 20, the day after Grand Theft Auto 6's highly anticipated launch. Director Francis Lawrence expressed hope that audiences will find time for both, while industry analyst Mat Piscatella noted that many publishers are intentionally avoiding releasing games near GTA 6 due to fear of its impact.
Devs "fear" launching near GTA 6, but one analyst says they shouldn't – a lot of people "are going to want to play other things"
Analyst Mat Piscatella believes that developers' fears of launching games near Grand Theft Auto 6 are overblown, as not all players will be interested in Rockstar's title. He suggests that games targeting different audiences, such as cozy games or life sims, can still find success. Piscatella notes that the widespread fear has left November with a relatively open release window.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has sold 8.7 million copies and made $366 million, analyst says, and that's despite the…
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has achieved significant commercial success, selling 8.7 million copies and generating $366 million, with a strong performance on Steam despite its availability on PC Game Pass. Analysts suggest that its inclusion in subscription services like Xbox Game Pass, while potentially cannibalizing direct sales, ultimately increased its overall reach and player base.
Despite Switch 2 price hikes, US consumers actually aren't spending any more on the console now, analyst says: "Pretty smart cookies over there at Nintendo"
Despite a $50 price increase, consumer spending on the Nintendo Switch 2 has only risen by 2% year-over-year, according to analyst Mat Piscatella. This is significantly lower than the spending increases seen for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, which experienced 17% and 33% hikes respectively. Piscatella attributes the Switch 2's stable spending to Nintendo's strategic shift away from bundled content, noting the company's clever approach to pricing.
Best-selling games in the U.S. for September 2026 – Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Wave makes the top 5
Circana has released the top-selling video games in the U.S. for September 2026, with Marvel's Wolverine taking the top spot. New releases like Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave and Onimusha: Way of the Sword debuted at #4 and #7 respectively. The report also details the overall best-selling games of 2026 so far, led by NBA 2K27.
NBA 2K27 Dunks On Resident Evil Requiem To Become The US’s Best-Selling Game Of 2026
NBA 2K27 has surpassed Resident Evil Requiem to become the best-selling game of 2026 year-to-date in the US. While Resident Evil Requiem was an early hit and the best-selling physical game on PS5 for the year, NBA 2K27's strong performance in September secured its top position. Analysts predict Grand Theft Auto 6 may take the lead later in the year.
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.
Gears of War E-Day sold just 62k copies on Xbox versus 1.7 million Game Pass players, analyst estimates: "The $70…
Gears of War: E-Day reportedly sold only 62,000 copies on Xbox consoles during its launch week, with an additional 168,000 on PC. Analyst firm Alinea estimates that while 1.7 million players accessed the game via Xbox Game Pass, and over 722,000 paid for a premium upgrade, the $70 premium SKU is struggling on Xbox due to the prevalence of subscription services.
As Xbox and PlayStation sales reach new lows, analyst says the "US hardware market has not been in a more precarious position since the early 80s"
Analyst Mat Piscatella states the US console hardware market is in its most precarious position since the early 1980s, with PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S sales significantly down year-over-year due to high prices. Component shortages, exacerbated by AI data center demand, are driving up costs and limiting production, leading to record-high average prices for new consoles.
US console market hasn't been "in a more precarious position since the early 80s," analyst says as PS5 and Xbox Series X price soar to all-time highs
An industry analyst states the US console market is in its most precarious position since the early 1980s due to soaring prices for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, driven by RAM shortages and tariffs. Sales for both Sony and Microsoft have significantly declined year-to-date, reaching all-time lows for Xbox hardware unit sales. While the upcoming release of Grand Theft Auto VI might offer some relief, component availability and pricing remain significant concerns.
US Video Game Hardware Sales Just Had Their Worst August In 13 Years
US video game hardware sales experienced their worst August in 13 years, with a 15% year-over-year decline in unit sales. Despite fewer consoles sold, higher prices, including those for mid-generation upgrades like the PlayStation 5 Pro, led to a significant increase in dollar sales for Sony. Market saturation and price increases are cited as key factors for the overall downturn.
PlayStation and Xbox Sales in August 2026 Drop to Record Lows in the US
US video game hardware sales in August 2026 reached record lows, with spending down three percent year-over-year to $302 million. PlayStation hardware sales dropped 11 percent and Xbox sales fell 31 percent, marking their lowest August figures since 2013 and 2020, respectively. Price hikes are cited as a major factor, pushing the average new hardware price to $541.
Why Game Pass Is Stalling and What a Circana Analyst Thinks About It | Invision Game Community
Circana analyst Mat Piscatella believes Xbox Game Pass is facing stalled subscriber growth due to the inherent limitations of the subscription model for games, arguing that most players only engage with one or two titles annually. Xbox executive Asha Sharma is exploring strategies like price reductions and ad-supported cloud gaming to improve profitability, though the effectiveness of these measures will not be clear for at least a year.
PlayStation boycott made "no significant change at all in player count or engagement" with Sony's media…
A boycott initiated by PlayStation fans against the company's move away from physical disc production has had no significant impact on player count or engagement, according to analyst Mat Piscatella. Despite fan outcry and concerns about digital ownership, Sony appears unaffected by the 'PSBlackout' movement.
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.
PS5 Blackout Made No Difference To Player Numbers, Apparently
Despite a protest from PlayStation fans regarding Sony's disc drive decisions, analytics expert Mat Piscatella stated that player numbers on the PlayStation 5 remained unaffected. The article questions the impact of the protest and what actions gamers might take next.
More than 40% of people cancelling Xbox Game Pass, PlayStation Plus and Nintendo Switch Online subscriptions blame rising costs
Rising costs are increasingly cited as the primary reason for cancellations of Xbox Game Pass, PlayStation Plus, and Nintendo Switch Online subscriptions in the US. According to analyst Mat Piscatella, over 40% of users cancelling these services now blame cost, a higher figure than earlier in the year. This trend aligns with general price increases across gaming hardware and software.
