Circana analyst calls US hardware market most precarious since the early 80s after Xbox and PS5 sales slumps

Circana analyst Mat Piscatella said Xbox hardware unit sales fell 33% year over year through August 2026, while PlayStation sales dropped 25%, putting Xbox at an all-time US year-to-date low and PlayStation at its lowest since 2013. The average price paid for an Xbox console in 2026 is 26% higher than in 2025 and PlayStation 20% higher, both all-time highs that he attributes mainly to a component crisis. Piscatella said the US hardware market has not been in a more precarious position since the early 80s, and the piece notes the 1983 market crash and the later recovery led by the NES.