Consumer Spending
Ongoing coverage on Consumer Spending.
Latest coverage
Fall’s Video Game Release Slate Is Intimidatingly Good And Completely Doomed
The Fall 2026 video game release schedule is packed with highly anticipated titles, but this glut is predicted to cause a 'bloodbath' in the industry. Intense competition for consumer dollars and a worsening global economy are expected to lead to significant underperformance, layoffs, and potential studio closures, particularly for smaller developers. Even major publishers may struggle to navigate the crowded market, with few likely to emerge unscathed.
5 Ways to Save Money on Gaming Without Quitting the Hobby
This guide offers five strategies for gamers to save money without sacrificing playtime. It suggests utilizing free-promo aggregators, waiting for game price drops instead of buying at launch, maximizing subscription services, playing backlog titles, and buying/trading used physical media. The article emphasizes that impulse purchases and launch-day habits are the primary sources of wasted money in the hobby.
The Subscription Audit Gap: $3,000/Year Unwatched | TAG
This article highlights the significant financial burden of multiple gaming subscription services, estimating annual costs between $1,000 and $3,000 per consumer. It contrasts this with the ongoing instability and layoffs within the gaming industry, such as Embracer Group's struggles and publisher-wide redundancies, suggesting a lack of consumer-facing accountability in the current business model.
Total consumer spending on games topped $60B in the US in 2025
Total consumer spending on video games in the US reached $60.7 billion in 2025, according to the Entertainment Software Association's 2026 Essential Facts report. This figure, sourced via Circana, comprises $52.3 billion for content, $5.4 billion for hardware, and $2.95 billion for accessories, nearly matching the record spending of 2021. The report also details player preferences for game attributes, purchase methods, and in-game content.
Business and Finance
Analysts suggest PC gamers purchase more games priced under $30 at launch compared to their PlayStation and Xbox counterparts. This trend is significantly reshaping the PC gaming market, according to Griffin Gaming Partners.
US hardware sales rose 69% in March 2026 following strong Switch 2 performance | US Monthly Charts
Total US consumer spending on video games increased by 12% to $5.3 billion in March 2026, driven by a 69% surge in hardware sales to $500 million, largely due to strong Nintendo Switch 2 performance. The Switch 2 led unit and dollar sales, surpassing the original Switch's performance. Console content spending also grew significantly, boosted by digital premium downloads and new releases.
How to Stay Safe While You Buy Games Online
This guide provides advice on how to safely purchase video games online, emphasizing the importance of reading terms, checking sellers, and using familiar payment methods with a clear transaction history. It highlights the differences in refund policies across major digital storefronts like Steam, Epic Games Store, PlayStation Store, and Nintendo eShop, and stresses the need for account security measures like two-step verification to prevent fraud.
How to Stay Safe While You Buy Games Online
This guide provides advice on how to safely purchase video games online, emphasizing the importance of reading terms, checking sellers, and using familiar payment methods with a clear transaction history. It highlights the differences in refund policies across major digital storefronts like Steam, Epic Games Store, PlayStation Store, and Nintendo eShop, and stresses the need for account security measures like two-step verification to prevent fraud.
Even though many developers are being laid off, consumer spending in gaming was actually up in January 2026, new report reveals
Despite widespread layoffs in the industry, US consumer spending on video games in January 2026 increased by 3% year-on-year to $4.3 billion, primarily driven by a 23% rise in non-mobile subscription services. Hardware sales saw a 16% increase, boosted by the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2, even as sales for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and the original Nintendo Switch declined.
Global game content sales rose 5.3% to $195.6bn in 2025
Global video game content sales reached $195.6 billion in 2025, a 5.3% increase, despite a significant 55% drop in private funding. The industry also saw a 40% reduction in layoffs compared to the previous year, though outsourcing for development work increased. Roblox emerged as a major growth driver, surpassing console and PC platforms in daily active users and engagement hours.
Black Ops 6 dominates 2024 in the U.S.
The US gaming market saw a 1.1% decline in revenue in 2024, totaling $58.7 billion, with hardware sales dropping significantly by 29%. Despite the overall downturn, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 was the best-selling premium game of the year, and digital platforms like Roblox and Call of Duty: Mobile showed strong engagement.
