Nintendo Switch 2 Becomes Second Fastest-Selling US Console

The Nintendo Switch 2 has become the second fastest-selling console in United States history, moving 5.9 million units following its June 5, 2026, launch. According to Circana data, the console trails only the 2001 release of the Game Boy Advance, which sold 6.5 million units. The Switch 2 is the best-selling console overall in 2026, aided by the success of the simulation game Pokemon Pokopia, though multiplatform titles like Forza Horizon 6 and 007: First Light have seen higher total sales due to broader availability.

In contrast, Sony and Microsoft experienced significant market losses. PlayStation 5 sales dropped 58% year-on-year, marking its lowest May since 2000, while Xbox recorded its lowest May sales on record. These declines follow aggressive price increases driven by component shortages caused by AI datacenter demand. The average new console price rose from $440 to $502 over the last year.

Microsoft increased Xbox prices by $100 to $150 and discontinued the 2TB Xbox Series X to manage production costs, warning that storage costs will likely double again by autumn 2027. Meanwhile, Valve Corporation entered the hardware market with the release of the Steam Machine, priced starting at $1,050.