Circana’s latest data reveals that US video game hardware sales in November 2025 dropped to their lowest level since 1995, with just 1.6 million units sold amid skyrocketing average prices of $439 per unit. Analyst Mat Piscatella shared the trends on Bluesky, highlighting how hardware spending fell 27% year-over-year from November 2024, while game content sales edged up 1% and accessories dipped 13%. Despite the hardware slump, overall video game spending rose 10% year-to-date, boosted by a 16% jump in subscriptions like Game Pass.
Key Factors Behind the Trends
Gamers face tougher choices as hardware costs soar—driven by factors like the ongoing memory price surge we’ve covered, which inflates PC and console builds. Piscatella’s graph shows unit sales halving from 3.39 million in November 2019 (at $235 average) to today’s figures, signaling a shift toward software and services over new gear. This US-focused data doesn’t capture global markets, but it mirrors complaints about affordability in the PC space.
Summary of November Hardware Stats
| Metric | November 2025 | Change from November 2024 | Historical Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Units Sold | 1.6 million | Not specified (overall volume down) | Lowest since 1995 (1.4 million) |
| Average Price per Unit | $439 | Up significantly | All-time high; vs. $235 in 2019 |
| Hardware Spending | – | Down 27% | Sharpest drop in records |
| Overall Industry Spending | – | Up 10% year-to-date | Content and subs offset hardware dips |
What This Means for PC Gamers
With prices climbing, many delay upgrades, favoring subscriptions for access without big hardware spends. Xbox hit an all-time November low in units, while niche devices like NEX Playground bucked the trend. If you’re building or buying, hunt deals now—memory volatility could worsen this in 2026.
How’s this affecting your setup? Share in the comments, and follow PCrunner for more on hardware trends and budget builds.
Sources: The Verge, IGN, Gamefile, This Week in Video Games, GamesIndustry.biz, Circana, TechPowerUp
