According to data, gaming consoles are selling worse than ever. There are several reasons for this: high costs, outdated hardware, and a limited selection of games. Even a major GTA 6 probably won’t change much about it, says an expert.
A report by S&P Global Market Intelligence Kagan analyzed the sales figures and forecasts of the three major gaming consoles: PS5, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch 2.
The data shows that console sales are expected to decline by 19.5% to 33.9 million units this year. There are several reasons for this. This is reported by the English-language magazine Gameindustry.biz.
Three Reasons for the Weakness of Gaming Consoles
The analysts mention three reasons why consoles are currently facing issues:
- The high prices of RAM and storage, which also affect the selling prices of the consoles. All hardware manufacturers have significantly increased prices in the past.
- The outdated hardware of the consoles, which is now over 5 years old. Many are waiting for a potential successor instead of purchasing a console.
- The limited selection of blockbuster games: There are hardly any noteworthy large titles for which purchasing a console might be worthwhile. Even the next Pokémon game won’t be released until 2027.
Even a game like GTA 6 might not change this situation much, says Neil Barbour, an analyst at S&P Global Market Intelligence. Barbour questions whether the release of Grand Theft Auto 6 can be convincing enough to justify the higher price. Even if the demand for hardware were high. He explains:
This assessment does not inspire confidence for the year 2027 or beyond. Our forecast assumes a potential market launch of the PlayStation 6 in 2028, contributing 4 million units in the first year and rising to 17.2 million by 2030.
Additionally, further significant changes are expected, such as the elimination of physical media for PlayStation. This decision is currently unsettling many users. So much so, that many are even considering switching from the PS5 to PC.
Recent figures indicate that Sony has reportedly made a lot of money from PC releases in recent months and years. However, they likely also realized that a PC gamer does not need a PS5, which could have been decisive for their decision: According to data, Sony has made a lot of money on Steam, but likely realized that PC gamers do not buy a PS5.
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