New data on US video game sales reveals that the PlayStation 5 was the best-selling console in January 2026, reclaiming its position after the Nintendo Switch 2 led in December 2025.
According to analyst Mat Piscatella’s post on BlueSky, total hardware spending in the US rose 16% year-over-year to $248 million. While the Nintendo Switch 2 helped offset declines, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and the original Switch all experienced sales drops of 17%, 27%, and 79% respectively. Despite these declines, the PS5 led in both unit and dollar sales for the month, with the Switch 2 placing second.
Hardware – Despite sales falling compared to a year ago, PlayStation 5 led the hardware market in both unit and dollar sales during January 2026. Nintendo Switch 2 ranked 2nd across both measures.
— Mat Piscatella (@matpiscatella.bsky.social) 2026-02-20T14:00:13.686Z
Spending on accessories fell 5% compared to the previous year, reaching $185 million, the lowest since January 2020, when it was $143 million. Overall, projected spending on video game hardware, content, and accessories grew 3% year-over-year to $4.7 billion. This increase was driven by a 23% jump in subscription spending and the 16% rise in hardware sales. The best-selling game for January was Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, continuing its strong performance in the market.
