US Gaming Hardware Spending Plummets to Near-Pandemic Lows in July
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
US gaming hardware and physical software spending dropped significantly in July due to high prices and changing player habits, with subscriptions serving as the only growing category.
Recent data from market analysts at Circana highlights a troubling trend for the games industry, showing that US consumer spending on both hardware and software hit notable lows this July. According to the report detailed by Eurogamer, hardware spending dropped by 29 percent year over year as every major console platform sold fewer units. The decline is particularly striking because current shortages are not driven by supply chain constraints, but rather by steep price points that are effectively pricing players out of console upgrades.
The slump extended directly into software sales, where physical game purchases plummeted to an all-time low not seen since tracking began in 1995. Even so, players still found ways to game. Retro ports dominated the charts, led by Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 driving massive numbers on PlayStation hardware, while subscription services stood as the only category to see growth, ticking up by 6 percent over the previous year.
For players and creators, these numbers point to a broader shift in how communities consume games. With hardware costs remaining high and physical media continuing its steady decline, gamers are clearly holding onto their current setups and relying on subscriptions or reliable live service mainstays rather than buying new releases at launch.
Tags: Industry News, Console Gaming, Game Sales, Hardware
Original article: Eurogamer