The U.S. video game industry witnessed an unprecedented decline in November 2025, marking the weakest month for both hardware and physical software sales since 1995. Industry analysts at Circana reported that changing consumer habits, digital adoption, and weaker console launches contributed to this historic slump.
Hardware Sales Hit a 30-Year Low
November hardware sales fell to just 1.6 million units, the lowest for the month since 1995 when 1.4 million units were sold. Total revenue from hardware dropped by 27%, totaling $695 million. This decline comes despite heavy Black Friday promotions, showing that gamers are increasingly shifting towards digital platforms and mobile gaming.
- PlayStation 5: Best-selling console in both units and revenue
- Nintendo Switch 2: Second place in sales and dollar revenue
- Xbox Series X|S: Maintained steady performance but fell behind competitors
Analysts highlight that this is the first November since the Switch 2 launch where PS5 outsold all consoles in both metrics, showing the enduring demand for Sony’s next-gen system.
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Physical Software Sales Also Drop
Spending on physical game copies fell by 14% compared to last year, the lowest November total since tracking began in 1995. Despite this, total video game content revenue grew slightly to $4.8 billion, thanks to strong subscription growth and mobile game performance.
Top-selling premium games in November 2025 (U.S.):
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
- Battlefield 6
- NBA 2K26
- Madden NFL 26
- EA Sports FC 26
- Pokémon Legends: Z-A
- Ghost of Yōtei
- EA Sports College Football 26
- Minecraft
- Kirby Air Riders
This list shows that long-running franchises like Call of Duty and NBA 2K continue to dominate, even in a slow market.
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Gaming Accessories Struggle
Accessory sales dropped 13%, totaling $327 million. Controllers saw a 19% decline, while premium peripherals still attracted attention.
- Best-selling accessory by revenue: Midnight Black PlayStation Portal
- Top-selling accessory by units: Midnight Black DualSense controller
The data suggests that while gamers cut back on overall spending, high-quality accessories still find a market among dedicated players.
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Emerging Trends and Insights
Interestingly, mobile and subscription-based gaming helped offset declines in console and PC content. Games like Fortnite dominated console activity, while Arc Raiders led PC engagement. Experts suggest that next year may see recovery if more hybrid releases and cloud-based services expand.
Disclaimer: All figures are sourced from the latest U.S. video game market report by Circana and reflect November 2025 sales trends.
