Bloody Hell, The PS5 Just Outsold The 'New' Switch 2 Last Month – What Sorcery Is This?!
AI Gaming News Author · Game Rant ·
In a surprising turn of events, the five-year-old PlayStation 5 outsold the 'brand new' Nintendo Switch 2 in US hardware sales for January 2026, according to Circana's latest report, highlighting shifts in player spending and the enduring power of established titles despite overall console sales fluctuations.
Right, so I've been tinkering with the latest industry reports all morning, and I've stumbled across something that made me do a double-take – a proper wizard-spilled-his-potion-everywhere kind of double-take. Apparently, the PlayStation 5, a console that's been around longer than some of my questionable experimental spell ingredients, just managed to outsell the shiny, relatively 'brand new' Nintendo Switch 2 in the US last month. Fair dinkum, right?
Now, before we dive deeper into this digital cauldron of numbers, massive shout-out to Cameron Swan over at Game Rant for initially spotting this intriguing data from Circana's January 2026 report. Cheers, mate, you've given us a proper head-scratcher! (Original article found on Game Rant, authored by Cameron Swan).
Let's unpack this, because it's wilder than a rogue teleportation spell. The PlayStation 5, which first burst onto the scene roughly five years ago, snagged the top spot for best-selling gaming hardware in the US for January 2026. And the Nintendo Switch 2? The one that only launched last June, still rocking that new console smell? It came in second. You'd think the novelty factor alone would push the Switch 2 to the top, wouldn't you? It's like sending a fresh-faced apprentice into a duel against an old, grizzled archmage and watching the archmage casually flick them aside with a well-placed cantrip. What's going on here?
Our trusty digital tea-leaf reader, Mat Piscatella, the Senior Director and Video Game Industry Advisor at Circana, is the one conjuring these monthly reports. Circana, for the uninitiated, is a market research group that basically sifts through all the gaming spending data to tell us what's flying off the shelves and what's gathering digital dust. Piscatella's latest dispatch via Bluesky revealed some fascinating, if slightly chaotic, trends.
Overall, hardware sales are actually looking up, jumping 16% from January 2025 to $248 million in January 2026. That's a good sign, right? More people buying consoles, more joy in the world – or at least more people getting ready to dive into virtual worlds. But here's the kicker: while the PS5 led the charge, its *own* sales were down 17% compared to January 2025. The Xbox Series hardware sales plummeted 27%, and the original Nintendo Switch (bless its aging heart) saw a whopping 79% decline. So, people are buying more hardware *overall*, but the individual giants are seeing dips, yet the PS5 still managed to pull ahead of a 'new' challenger. It's a bit like a magical economy where the total mana pool is growing, but everyone's individual spellcasting efficiency is dropping, except for one wizard who just happens to be in the right place at the right time.
What does this tell us? Well, a few things, if you're willing to read between the lines of code. It could be that the Switch 2's initial launch surge settled down, and January just wasn't its month for some reason – perhaps a slower release schedule for exclusive titles, or maybe gamers are still feeling out its long-term value. On the flip side, the PS5 has a massive, established library and a loyal player base. Maybe it's hitting a sweet spot in pricing or bundles, or perhaps the 'new console' excitement for the Switch 2 just wasn't quite potent enough to overcome the PS5's enduring appeal and library depth. Or, dare I say it, maybe some folks are just waiting for a Switch 2 'Pro' model already? Gamers, eh? Always chasing the next shimmering upgrade.
Beyond the hardware battlefield, the report also shows some interesting shifts in how we're all spending our hard-earned gold. Overall spending on video game content (that's everything from digital downloads to DLC to microtransactions – yes, even those darn gacha pulls) saw a 3% increase, hitting almost $4.7 billion. Even more tellingly, subscription-based spending shot up a hefty 23%. This, my friends, is a trend worth watching. It suggests that while we might be a bit more selective about our console purchases, we're certainly not shying away from investing in ongoing gaming experiences. It's the era of the live service game, the battle pass, and the 'endless adventure' – a whole different kind of magic, if you ask me.
And what were we all playing in January? The top 20 best-selling games list is a familiar sight, with a few intriguing twists. Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, despite a critical reception that probably felt like a slight miscast spell, held onto the number one spot like a goblin hoarding its treasure. It's a testament to the franchise's sheer commercial pulling power, even if it wasn't the *best* selling game of 2025 (that honour went to Battlefield 6, which dropped to fifth in January).
Sports games, as predictably as the tide coming in, dominated the charts – NBA 2K26, Madden NFL 26, EA Sports FC 26, and EA Sports College Football 26 all made strong showings. It's like they've cast an 'evergreen' spell on the charts, appearing year after year. But what truly sparks my curious wizard brain are the older titles still holding their ground. Minecraft, Grand Theft Auto 5, and Red Dead Redemption 2 – these digital legends just refuse to fade away. It goes to show that genuine quality and addictive gameplay can truly transcend time, like a classic spellbook that's always relevant.
Only one 'new' game, Code Vein 2, managed to sneak onto the list. However, Final Fantasy 7 Remake saw an incredible leap from obscurity (rank 225!) to number nine, thanks to its Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox ports. This is a clever move, extending the reach of a beloved title to new audiences – a smart play that proves a well-timed port can be just as potent as a brand new release. It highlights the power of making great games accessible across platforms.
So, what's the takeaway from this month's digital data dump? The gaming world remains a vibrant, chaotic place. The old guard can still teach the new kids a thing or two, our spending habits are shifting towards continuous engagement, and some games, like a trusty old potion, just never go out of style. It's a fascinating brew, and I'm genuinely excited to see what peculiar concoctions the next month brings!
Tags: Gaming Industry, Console Sales, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, Market Trends
Original article: Game Rant