New video game sales data names IO Interactive’s (IOI) 007 First Light and Nintendo’s Switch 2 handheld as the United States’ bestselling video game title and hardware, respectively. Data shared on Bluesky by Mat Piscatella, Senior Director and Video Game Industry Advisor at market firm Circana (formerly NPD), shows that sales of IOI’s superspy blockbuster, 007 First Light, and Nintendo’s portable hardware accounted for about 3 percent of May 2026’s U.S. video game spending growth in the 27-day reporting period running from May 3, 2026, through May 30, 2026.
Total video game sales in the U.S. rose 3 percent from May 2025 to May 2026, jumping from $4.07 billion to $4.2 billion. Year-to-date (YTD) spending last month — around $23 billion — is a 4 percent increase over 2025.
May 2026 US video game sales: A rundown
Hardware →
Video game hardware sales have skyrocketed since May 2025, with a 38 percent increase from $180 million to $249 million. The Nintendo Switch 2 handheld dominated competing consoles in the U.S. in both units sold and dollars spent, its sales offsetting a 43 percent decline in PS5 purchases, which Piscatella says was likely driven by recent price hikes.
A 43 percent drop is eyebrow-raising enough, but Circana data shows system sales fell to their lowest level since May 2000. Yes, 2000. Nearly three decades ago. During this time, North American gamers were awaiting the Western launch of Sony’s PlayStation 2, which launched in October 2000.
Even after a very rocky May, XBOX Series hardware spending grew 7 percent compared to this time last year. versus a year ago, units fell by 12 percent. Altogether, XBOX’s May 2026 hardware unit sales were “the lowest ever recorded for a May month.”
Accessories spending rose 8 percent in May 2026 compared to the same time last year. Sales hit $168 million, with Forza Horizon 6-related racing controller peripheral sales increasing nearly 100 percent (95 percent) YTD. Piscatella says that, of those, Logitech’s G29 Driving Force Racing Wheel was the May 2026 bestseller.
Software and content →
Game purchases (physical and digital), recurring subscription plan payments, and the like, rose a modest 1 percent in this time frame. Altogether, content sales have increased from $3.74 billion to $3.76 billion. YTD content spending held at 3 percent above May 2025, at $20.4 billion.
“Console drove content spending growth in May,” Piscatella explained. “Total spending on console content increased by 25% compared to a year ago and is now 13% higher year-to-date. PC content (+15% versus a year ago) and subscription spending (+11%) also grew in May.”
As far as specific game sales go, 007 First Light decimated the competition and debuted at no. 4 on the year’s bestseller list. 007 First Light also led “full-game” dollar sales on PlayStation this month. Impressively, but perhaps unsurprisingly, Piscatella said 007 First Light sales were “the highest for a James Bond video game in franchise history.” (Sorry, 007 Goldeneye. Don’t worry, you’re still a timeless banger.)
Forza Horizon 6 sales also come as no shock; the long-anticipated Horizon follow-up took no. 2 on May 2026’s bestselling games list, no. 5 in YTD sales, and no. 1 in full-game dollar sales on XBOX and PC.
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