Mat Piscatella
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Starfield Tops Weekly US Sales Charts Despite 'Disappointing' Early Estimates
Starfield has topped the US sales charts for the week ending April 11th, with the PlayStation 5 version accounting for 95% of its full-price sales. This achievement comes despite earlier estimates suggesting lower worldwide sales for the port. The game's debut was strong, outselling titles like MLB The Show 26 and Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, marking its first time leading weekly sales since its original release in 2023.
Starfield "was the best-selling video game of the week" in US for first time in nearly 3 years, reports analyst, despite Bethesda's rough PS5 port of the RPG
Despite a rocky launch and criticism regarding its PlayStation 5 port, Starfield achieved the best-selling video game status in the US for the week ending April 11th. Analyst Mat Piscatella reported the strong sales figures, which occurred around the same time as the release of the Free Lanes update and the Terran Armada DLC.
Arc Raiders and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 help show "mid-price is the new sweet spot" for games, analysts…
Analysts at Newzoo identify the $30-$50 price range as the new sweet spot for PC and console games, citing titles like Arc Raiders and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as examples of successful mid-priced releases. This trend emerges as the overall cost of gaming increases, with players seeking better value between indie and premium $70 titles.
PS5-försäljningen rusade inför prishöjningen
Following Sony's announcement of global price increases for PlayStation consoles, US sales of the PlayStation 5 hardware saw a significant surge, reaching their highest point of the year during the week ending April 4th. The price hike, which took effect on April 2nd, has led to increased hardware sales compared to the previous year.
PS5 sales spike as players raced to beat global price rises
US spending on PlayStation 5 hardware saw a significant spike as consumers rushed to purchase consoles before global price increases took effect. Sony Interactive Entertainment cited economic pressures for the price hikes, which followed a period of declining PS5 unit sales despite overall financial growth.
PlayStation 5 sees massive sales spike in the US, beating 2026 records so far as eager consumers rush to beat RAM crisis price hikes
US sales of the PlayStation 5 surged following Sony's announcement of upcoming price increases due to global economic pressures and component shortages. The spike in sales for the week ending April 4th has surpassed the rest of the year's sales so far. These pressures are also impacting other hardware markets, including PC RAM and potentially delaying the PlayStation 6.
PS5 Sales Soared In The US, And There Is A Pretty Obvious Reason Why
PlayStation 5 sales in the US saw a significant surge in the week ending April 4, driven by an impending price increase on April 2. This price hike, the latest in a series of increases for Sony's console, contributed to a doubling of overall hardware sales compared to the previous year. Other companies like Microsoft and Nintendo have also implemented price adjustments for their consoles and games.
PS5 Had Strongest Hardware Sales Week in the US in 2026 Ahead of Price Hikes
US sales of PlayStation 5 hardware reached their highest point of 2026 in the week ending April 4th, driven by impending price increases. This surge in hardware spending nearly doubled the previous year's figures for the same period. Sony implemented worldwide price hikes for its PlayStation hardware starting April 2nd, affecting the base PS5, PS5 Digital Edition, PS5 Pro, and PlayStation Portal.
Crimson Desert Ranks in the Top 20 for Total Weekly Active Players on Consoles in the US
Crimson Desert has maintained strong player engagement on consoles in the US nearly three weeks after launch, with players averaging significant hours per week. The game ranks in the top 20 for total weekly active players on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, and has sold over four million copies.
Crimson Desert players average over 20 hours a week in the open-world game, blowing away almost everything else on…
Crimson Desert players are averaging over 20 hours per week, with US players on Xbox averaging 20 hours and PlayStation players averaging 22 hours in the week ending March 28. This playtime places Crimson Desert as the top game on Xbox and second on PlayStation for average weekly hours per active user, according to Circana's Mat Piscatella. The game also saw a significant increase in total weekly active users across both platforms.
PS5, PS5 Pro’s Price Hikes Might Lead to PS6 Costing 50 Percent More, Say Analysts
Industry analysts predict that recent price hikes for the PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 5 Pro could lead to the PlayStation 6 costing up to 50 percent more. Factors such as US economic policies, rising component costs, and market volatility are cited as reasons for the anticipated increase, potentially normalizing $1,000 console prices.
'$1,000+ Consoles Could Become the Norm': PS6's Price Touted to Touch Four Figures
Industry analysts predict that the PlayStation 6 could launch with a price tag of around $999.99, making four-figure consoles the new norm. Factors such as global economic conditions, inflation, and component shortages are contributing to the potential price increase for next-generation hardware.
PS6 and Xbox Project Helix "will start at a 50% higher price" than PS5 and Xbox Series X, predict analysts following Sony price hike – and $999 "is not impossible"
Analysts predict that the PlayStation 6 and Xbox Project Helix will launch at significantly higher prices than current-generation consoles, potentially reaching $999. This projection follows Sony's recent price increase for the PlayStation 5, with experts citing economic factors and a shift towards console gaming becoming a luxury expenditure.
The PS5 Price Hike Was Inevitable, But What Comes Next?
Sony has announced a second price increase for the PlayStation 5, citing global economic pressures and increased component costs. Industry analysts like Mat Piscatella and Piers Harding-Rolls suggest these price hikes are likely to continue through 2030 and may push consumers towards cheaper gaming options like mobile or PC. Competitors like Microsoft and Nintendo are also facing similar pressures, with Nintendo not ruling out a price increase for the upcoming Switch 2.
Record Sales, Declining Stock Prices, Production Decreases: Is Switch 2 A Massive Success Or Not?
Despite record-breaking sales in the US, Nintendo is reportedly cutting Switch 2 production by 30% due to weaker-than-expected overseas demand and holiday sales. Analysts suggest this is a calculated move for inventory stabilization amidst challenging macroeconomic conditions, rather than a sign of failure. The console's success is attributed to strong initial demand and titles like Pokemon Pokopia, but future growth may depend on major first-party releases and strategic pricing.
PS5 Price Increase Confirmed By Sony Amid Market Pressures
Sony has announced a global price increase for the PlayStation 5, PS5 Pro, and PlayStation Portal, citing global economic pressures. The new prices, effective April 2, 2026, will see the standard PS5 rise to $649.99 and the PS5 Pro to $899.99. Industry analysis suggests gaming hardware is increasingly purchased by affluent households, with average hardware prices rising significantly.
Analyst says Epic Games layoffs send a clear signal: 'This will not get any easier'
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney announced over 1,000 layoffs due to a decline in Fortnite engagement since 2025, leading to the company spending more than it earns. Analysts suggest this signals a challenging period for the entire industry, exacerbated by inflation and increased competition from platforms like Roblox. The company is also shutting down several Fortnite game modes, including Rocket Racing and Festival Battle Stage.
US: Nintendo Switch 2 remains 2nd fastest selling hardware in tracked history
Mat Piscatella of Circana reports that the Nintendo Switch remains the second fastest-selling video game hardware in the United States, despite sales not meeting internal expectations during the Christmas season. The Game Boy Advance holds the record for the fastest-selling hardware in tracked US history.
77% of US Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth players were 30 or older, analyst says, as Square Enix fights to get young people to…
An analysis of player demographics for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth in the US reveals that 77% of players are aged 30 or older, with 62% being 35 or older, according to Circana's Mat Piscatella. This trend, noted by Final Fantasy 14 director Naoki Yoshida, suggests the Final Fantasy series may be struggling to attract younger players due to long gaps between releases and evolving player preferences.
Mario Tennis Fever Takes Out Top Spot In February 2026 Nintendo Charts (US)
Mario Tennis topped the best-selling games chart on Nintendo platforms in the US for February 2026, according to data from Mat Piscatella. Resident Evil Requiem was the best-selling premium game across all platforms for the month and the year so far, also leading sales on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC storefronts.