U.S. November Video Game Sales Drop to Lowest Since 1995
November 2025 saw a significant decline in video game sales in the U.S., marking the lowest sales figures since 1995. This downturn occurred despite the month being historically strong due to Black Friday shopping. According to a report from Circana, total video game spending reached $5.9 billion, a 4% decrease year-over-year.
Hardware Sales Overview
Hardware sales suffered notably, dropping 27% to $695 million. This is the lowest November total since 2005, with unit sales hitting 1.6 million, down from 1.4 million in 1995. Key figures included:
- Xbox Series hardware sales declined by 70% year-over-year.
- PS5 sales fell over 40%.
- Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 combined sales decreased by over 10%.
Pricing Trends
The average price of video game hardware reached a record high of $439, which is an 11% increase compared to the previous year. Specifics include over 30% price increases for Xbox consoles. This steep pricing has likely contributed to the reduced purchasing interest among consumers.
NEX Playground’s Unexpected Success
In contrast, the NEX Playground emerged as a surprising performer in the market. It became the third best-selling hardware unit in November, exceeding Xbox Series units in sales. This device saw its unit sales just 7% below its lifetime recorded sales, suggesting strong consumer interest despite overall market trends.
Software Sales Analysis
On the software side, overall content spending modestly rose by 1% year-over-year to $4.8 billion. Notably, subscription revenues grew by 16%, and mobile gaming revenues increased by 2%. However, physical software sales dropped 14%, marking the worst November sales since 1995.
Top-Selling Games
The best-selling title for November was “Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.” For 18 consecutive years, this franchise has debuted at the top of the charts. Despite this achievement, full game dollar sales for “Black Ops 7” declined compared to its predecessor released last year.
- Top games included:
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
- Battlefield 6
- NBA 2K26
Market Concerns and Future Outlook
The overall performance in November has raised concerns among industry analysts. Circana’s Mat Piscatella noted that while affluent consumers continued their spending, the price increases could be discouraging purchases of higher-priced items. Key issues include:
- Possible impacts of rising RAM prices on gaming hardware.
- Potential continuation of reduced sales if market trends persist.
As the industry awaits December results, there is speculation that consumers might be delaying purchases for better deals during the holiday season. The upcoming data will provide critical insights into the future of video game sales in 2025.
