Console Sales
Ongoing coverage on Console Sales.
Latest coverage
Xbox revenue falls 2% in first results since layoffs as decline narrows from 10%
Xbox's revenue saw a 2% decline in the July-September quarter, marking its fifth consecutive decrease, though the drop is less severe than in previous periods. While console sales and Game Pass subscriptions continue to shrink, Microsoft is anticipating stronger growth during the holiday quarter. The company's content and services business experienced a smaller 1% slip when currency changes are excluded, exceeding Microsoft's own forecasts.
Games Inbox: Is Marvel's Wolverine an underrated video game?
This collection of reader letters discusses the perceived underappreciation of Marvel's Wolverine, its impact on PlayStation 5 sales, and the rising cost of next-generation hardware and digital games. Other topics include potential new handheld consoles from Sony and Microsoft, the discovery of hidden codes in F-Zero GX, the future of BioWare franchises like Mass Effect and Dragon Age, and speculation about Nintendo's next mainline Zelda title.
PS6 delay looks increasingly likely after PS5 enjoys 22% sales boost
Recent sales data indicates a 22% boost for the PlayStation 5 in September, driven by Marvel's Wolverine and anticipation for Grand Theft Auto 6. This surge suggests that a PlayStation 6 release, previously rumored for 2027, is unlikely to occur soon, with potential delays pushing it to 2028 or even 2029.
PlayStation Is Offering $40 Off PS5 Refurb Bundles Ahead of GTA 6
Sony Interactive Entertainment is offering a $40 discount on refurbished PlayStation 5 console and DualSense controller bundles. This promotion provides potential savings of up to $155 and comes ahead of the highly anticipated release of Grand Theft Auto 6.
Xbox’s Hardware Problem: September Sales Drop To New Low Amid Sony’s Market Dominance
Xbox Series hardware sales hit an all-time September low, falling 27% year-over-year, while PlayStation 5 sales grew 22% and Nintendo Switch sales declined 12%. This analysis attributes Xbox's struggles to its multiplatform strategy and cloud gaming focus, contrasting it with Sony's console-centric approach and the upcoming Grand Theft Auto 6 launch. Microsoft is attempting to reverse course under new CEO Asha Sharma by re-emphasizing console exclusives and hardware upgrades.
Microsoft is encouraging Xbox owners to sell their consoles in bizarre promotion
Microsoft is reportedly emailing lapsed Xbox owners, encouraging them to trade in their consoles to Best Buy for up to $375. This promotion, aimed at boosting active player numbers and Game Pass subscriptions, has been met with criticism for its optics and the current low sales of Xbox consoles in the US.
Ex-PlayStation Boss Has Some Advice For Xbox: “Pick A Lane”
Former PlayStation boss Shawn Layden advises Xbox to "pick a lane," suggesting the company either commit to competing with PlayStation on hardware or fully embrace its role as the world's largest game publisher. Layden points to Sega's shift to software after the Dreamcast as a precedent, noting Xbox's declining console sales and potential future as a software-only entity.
Stephen Root Confirms He Plays a Role in Grand Theft Auto 6
Actor Stephen Root has confirmed his involvement in Grand Theft Auto 6, revealing his character Brian was intentionally featured in early marketing materials. The game's extended trailer release led to significant sales boosts for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S consoles in the UK, though overall market impact may be tempered by rising console prices.
Hype for GTA 6 is giving PS5 and Xbox console sales a much needed 30% boost
The upcoming release of Grand Theft Auto 6 has significantly boosted sales for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S consoles in the UK, with a 33% and 34% increase respectively. This surge provides a much-needed lift for console manufacturers facing rising costs and component shortages, with further upticks expected around the game's launch.
Grand Theft Auto 6 Extended Look Caused 33 Percent Jump in PS5, Xbox Series X/S Console Sales
The extended look trailer for Grand Theft Auto 6 has reportedly caused a significant jump in PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S console sales in the UK, with some retailers experiencing stock shortages. Despite this surge, analysts caution that rising hardware prices may still be a barrier for consumers, and the long-term impact on overall install base growth might not be as massive as hoped.
GTA 6 Extended Look Caused A Big Jump In Console Sales
The extended look at Grand Theft Auto 6 has significantly boosted console sales, with PlayStation 5 sales up 33% and Xbox Series X sales up 34%. Despite high prices, the hype surrounding the game appears to be the primary driver for this increase.
Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Is Way Ahead Of Black Ops 7 Already By One Metric
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is reportedly outselling Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 on Steam by a significant margin, with nearly 400,000 copies sold before release compared to Black Ops 7's 200,000. The upcoming title's beta also saw higher concurrent player numbers. Analysts suggest Modern Warfare 4's current-gen-only release could boost sales for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X consoles.
Xbox Series X is now £670 in UK as Microsoft sneak price hike out at weekend
Microsoft has implemented significant price increases for the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S in the UK, with the Xbox Series X now costing £669.99 and the Xbox Series S starting at £429.99. These hikes, attributed to component costs, come at a time when Xbox console sales are reportedly low and follow similar price adjustments for the PlayStation 5 and anticipated increases for the Nintendo Switch 2.
PS5 Is Closing In On 100 Million Sales, But It’s Losing Ground To The PS4
The PlayStation 5 has sold 95.3 million units, nearing 100 million but trailing behind the PlayStation 4's sales at the same point in its lifecycle. Sony sold 1.6 million PS5 consoles in the last quarter, a 36% decrease year-on-year, attributed partly to ongoing component shortages and increased prices. Despite hardware sales decline, software unit sales and monthly active users have seen increases.
Sony insists it won't run out of PS5 consoles for GTA 6 launch
Sony has assured that there will be sufficient PlayStation 5 consoles available to meet demand through the rest of 2026, anticipating a boost from the launch of Grand Theft Auto 6. Despite current memory shortages, the company has secured the necessary components to meet projected sales volumes for the fiscal year ending March 2027, and has increased its revenue and operating income outlook for the gaming division.
Xbox lost $1,700,00000 this year but execs think all will be fine by June 2027
Microsoft's Xbox division reported a 7% decrease in revenue for fiscal year 2026, amounting to $1.7 billion, with console hardware sales down 29%. Despite these figures, executives Asha Sharma and Satya Nadella expressed confidence that the business will return to growth by fiscal year 2027, citing upcoming exclusive titles and investments in player value.
Xbox hardware revenue fell by $1.7 billion during fiscal 2026
Xbox hardware revenue saw a significant decrease of 7%, approximately $1.7 billion, in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026. This decline is attributed to reduced console sales and a 5% drop in Xbox content and services revenue, despite growth in Xbox Game Pass. Microsoft also faces ongoing challenges with component shortages and has implemented mass layoffs across its gaming division.
Former PlayStation head says the rise of AAA games shut down Japan Studio because Sony "wanted to drive hardware…
Former PlayStation executive Shuhei Yoshida explained that Sony Interactive Entertainment closed Japan Studio in 2021 because its games did not drive console sales, unlike larger AAA titles. He encouraged support for former Japan Studio developers by playing their new games, Slitterhead and Ratatan. Yoshida also noted that while Japan Studio produced creative titles, their smaller scale made them less suitable for the shift towards AAA development on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.
Former PlayStation boss warns Sony won't be able to replicate a key factor to the PS2's success "in the current generation" due to hardware costs
Former Sony Interactive Entertainment America president Shawn Layden believes current hardware costs and market pressures, driven by demand from AI and cryptocurrency, will prevent current-generation consoles from replicating the PlayStation 2's success through significant price drops. He highlighted that a substantial portion of the PS2's record-breaking sales came after its price was reduced to $199, a strategy he feels is no longer feasible.
PS5 pre-orders for GTA 6 are outselling Xbox by a huge margin
Grand Theft Auto 6 pre-orders are significantly favoring the PlayStation 5 over the Xbox Series X/S, with data indicating a 6-to-1 sales ratio. Sony has emphasized its console's advantages, including DualSense features and faster load times, while Microsoft faces challenges with lower console sales and the potential impact of Xbox Game Pass on full-price game purchases.
