September 2026 Spending (USD, Millions)
Marvel’s Wolverine Helped PlayStation Claw Big Gains in September US Video Game Sales
US video game projected total spending across content, hardware and accessories fell 1% in September when compared to a year ago, to $4.8 billion. Year-to-date spending is now 3% behind 2025’s pace, at $41.0 billion.
Marvel’s Wolverine debuted as the best-selling game of September and delivered the highest launch month dollar sales for a Sony published game since February 2024’s Helldivers II. At the same time, PlayStation 5 hardware dollar sales increased by 43% compared to a year ago, helping Sony achieve its highest hardware dollar share in a month since May 2025.
Eight of the top ten best-selling games of September were new releases. However, it was NBA 2K27 that ranked 2nd in the month as it surpassed Resident Evil: Requiem to become the best-selling game of 2026 year-to-date.
Top 10 Selling Video Games (Retail and Digital) Month Ending September 2026
^ Includes Digital Point of Sale Actuals – * Includes Digital Sales Projections
Top 10 Selling Video Games (Retail and Digital), Year-to-Date 2026
|
Multiple Video Game Publishers |
|||
|
Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream* |
|||
|
LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight^ |
|||
^ Includes Digital Point of Sale Actuals – * Includes Digital Sales Projections
Hardware Key Takeaways
-
September video game hardware spending grew 12% when compared to a year ago, to $362 million. Year-to-date hardware spending trails 2025’s pace by 9%, at $2.9 billion.
-
PlayStation 5 hardware dollar sales grew 43% in September when compared to a year ago. Spending fell year-on-year for both Xbox Series (-2%) and Nintendo Switch 2 (-12%).
-
Sony’s dollar share of the video game hardware market reached its highest point in a month since May 2025. PlayStation 5 led all hardware platforms in both unit and dollar sales in September.
-
Total video game hardware unit sales fell 3% in September compared to a year ago. PlayStation 5 unit sales increased by 22% year-on-year, with Switch 2 unit sales falling 14% and Xbox Series dropping 27%.
-
Xbox Ecosystem console unit sales fell to an all-time September low. The previous record low was set a year ago.
Content Key Takeaways
-
Total content spending fell 2% in September when compared to a year ago, to $4.2 billion. Year-to-date content spending is also 2% behind 2025’s pace, at $36.3 billion.
-
Mobile was again the primary driver of the content spending decline in the month as spend fell 14% versus a year ago Console spending increased by 8%, while PC grew 27%
-
Non-mobile subscription spending fell 5% in September when compared to a year ago. It was the first monthly year-on-year drop in subscription spending since February 2024.
-
Marvel’s Wolverine was the best-selling game of September in full game dollar sales, debuting as 2026’s 11th best-selling game overall.
-
Marvel’s Wolverine generated the highest launch month full game dollar sales for a Sony published title since the February 2024 debut of Helldivers II.
-
NBA 2K27 surpassed Resident Evil: Requiem to become the best-selling game of 2026 year-to-date. NBA 2K27 ranked 2nd overall in September behind only Marvel’s Wolverine.
-
Eight of the top ten best-selling games of September were new releases. Also appearing among the top 5 best-sellers of the month were EA Sports FC 27 (3rd), Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave (4th) and The Blood of Dawnwalker (5th).
Accessories Key Takeaways
-
September accessories spending grew 10% when compared to a year ago, to $218 million. Gamepad spending increased by 9% when compared to September 2025.
-
The PS5 Limited Edition DualSense Wireless Controller Wolverine Battle Yellow gamepad was September’s best-selling accessory in both units and dollars.
