PS5 Still Outselling the Switch 2 in the U.S.

Both the PlayStation 5 and the Switch 2 are selling well, but one is five years old and the other has been on sale for nine months after years of anticipation. Circana Senior Director Mat Piscatella reports that the PS5 led U.S. hardware sales in January 2026, even though people bought fewer PS5s than a year earlier.

The Switch 2 placed second, followed by the Xbox Series X/S and PC gaming handhelds. Overall hardware spending rose 16 percent compared to January 2025, despite declines among last‑generation systems. The PS5 was down 17 percent year‑over‑year, the Xbox Series X/S fell 27 percent, and the original Switch plunged 79 percent.

That mix raises a question: does the PS5’s performance reflect ongoing platform strength, or is there unusual softness in Switch 2’s launch year? Nintendo’s recent earnings showed it lost the holiday period worldwide to Sony. Although the Switch 2 has surpassed Switch 1 sales on a time‑aligned basis, it still trailed five‑year‑old hardware.

United States

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