Console gaming statistics 2026: Market size, hardware & revenue

Console gaming is the fastest-growing segment of the global games market in 2025, generating $45.9 billion in revenue (up 5.5% year-on-year) — the highest growth rate of any platform, driven by the Nintendo Switch 2 launch, higher software prices, and a strong release calendar. Console accounts for 24% of total gaming revenue. PlayStation 5 cumulative sell-in reached 93.7 million units as of March 31, 2026 (Sony FY2025). Nintendo Switch 2 sold 19.86 million units in its first fiscal year. Xbox Series X|S lifetime hardware sales sit at approximately 35 million units, with hardware sales collapsing in 2025.

Console gaming key statistics

• $45.9 billion — console gaming revenue in 2025, up +5.5% YoY — fastest-growing platform (2025).
• 24% — console’s share of the total $188.8B global games market in 2025.
• +4.7% CAGR — forecast console growth 2025–2028, driven by GTA VI (2026) and Gen-10 consoles (2027).
• 688 million players — console forecast by 2028.
• 93.7 million units sold (sell-in) — PS5 as of March 31, 2026 (Sony FY2025 Q4 supplemental).
• 19.86 million — Nintendo Switch 2 sold in its first fiscal year.
• ~35 million units — Xbox Series X|S lifetime.

Console gaming market

Console gaming generated $45.9 billion in 2025 — the fastest-growing gaming segment

• Console revenue in 2025: $45.9 billion, up 5.5% from 2024.
• This makes console the fastest-growing platform in 2025, ahead of PC (+2.5%) and mobile (+2.9%).
• Growth drivers: Nintendo Switch 2 launch (June 2025), higher software prices (GTA VI at $80, industry moving toward $70–80 standard), and a strong premium release calendar.
• Console + PC combined: $85.8 billion (45% of total market), underlining the continued strength of premium platforms.
• Forecast: the global games market is projected at $206.5 billion by 2028; console is expected to outpace other platforms through that window (GTA VI 2026, Gen-10 consoles from 2027).

Console hardware sales

Nintendo Switch 2 sold 19.86 million in its first fiscal year — second-fastest US launch ever

• Nintendo Switch 2 launched June 5, 2025.
• 19.86 million units sold in FY2026 (Nintendo’s first fiscal year, April 2025–March 2026).
• Finished its first 12 months as the second-fastest selling hardware in US history.
• Nintendo forecasts 16.5 million units in FY2027, reflecting expected natural slowdown after launch year.
• YTD Americas 2026 (January–June): 2.21 million units — comfortably outselling PS5 (1.42M) and Xbox Series X|S (0.60M) in the same period.

PlayStation 5: 93.7 million units sell-in as of March 31, 2026

• PS5 cumulative sell-in: 93.7 million units as of March 31, 2026 — FY2025 sell-in totaled 16.0 million units on top of 77.7 million cumulative through FY2024 (Sony FY2025 Q4 supplemental, sell-in basis).
• FY2025 annual PS5 sales: 16.0 million — down from 20.8M peak in FY2023.
• FY2026 Q1 (April–June 2026): 1.6 million — further deceleration.
• PS5 is the fourth best-selling PlayStation console (behind PS2 at 160M, PS4 at 117M, original PS at 102M).

Current-gen console comparison

Console gaming players

688 million console players forecast by 2028

• Console players will steadily climb to 688 million by 2028.
• Total global gamers across all platforms: 3.6 billion in 2025, growing to ~3.9 billion by 2028.
• Console’s player base grows more slowly than PC (projected to surpass 1 billion for first time) and mobile (~3.1 billion).

Console gaming outlook

GTA VI (November 2026) and Gen-10 consoles (2027) are the next major catalysts

• GTA VI (November 19, 2026 launch) is a major console revenue driver for 2026.
• Gen-10 consoles (PS6, next Xbox) are anticipated in 2027 — the next major hardware cycle catalyst.
• Console growth (+4.7% CAGR 2025–2028) is expected to be the fastest among all platforms through 2028.
• The shift toward value-driven strategies (higher software prices, fewer blockbuster titles) is the defining console market trend — volume declining, revenue per game increasing.

Console gaming historical milestones

• 1977Atari 2600 launches; modern console era begins.
• 1985Nintendo Entertainment System launches globally.
• 2000PlayStation 2 launches; becomes best-selling console ever at 160M.
• 2005Xbox 360 and PS3 introduce HD gaming; 7th generation begins.
• 2013PS4 and Xbox One launch; 8th generation. PS4 sells 117M.
• 2017Nintendo Switch launches; hybrid model disrupts the market.
• November 2020PS5 and Xbox Series X|S launch; 9th generation.
• March 2026Nintendo Switch final lifetime sales: 155.92 million (#2 all time).
• June 2025Nintendo Switch 2 launches; 19.86M in first fiscal year.
• 2025Console gaming: $45.9B, fastest-growing platform.
• November 2026GTA VI launches; expected to drive record console spending.