PlayStation 5 Remains at the Top
PlayStation 5 has made a strong start to the new year with the latest sales data released in the US. After topping the charts in November and briefly losing the lead in December, the console regained the top spot in January. PlayStation 5’s return to the lead is noteworthy, especially in a period of increasingly fierce competition in the hardware market. The balance shifted by the release of the Nintendo Switch 2 seems to have been reshaped in the first month of the year.
PlayStation 5 Leads Sales in January 2026
According to the released data, hardware spending in the US increased year-on-year. While total spending rose, and some platforms experienced declines, PlayStation 5 managed to be the best-selling console of the month in both units and revenue. Nintendo Switch 2 came in second, while other platforms saw more significant declines. Despite this, PS5’s continued leadership demonstrates its strong brand power.
Looking at the overall picture, there was a limited but noticeable growth in total spending on hardware, content, and accessories. The increase in subscriptions, in particular, indicates that the industry’s revenue model is continuing to transform. The rise in service revenue, along with increased hardware sales, reveals that the PlayStation 5 ecosystem is not solely dependent on console sales.
However, a year-on-year decrease is noticeable in accessories spending. This decline in spending may indicate a cautious trend in consumer behavior. However, this doesn’t overshadow PlayStation 5’s hardware leadership. The console’s top position in both unit and dollar-based sales is attributed to its strong content calendar and brand loyalty.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 was the best-selling game of the month, and the impact of major content titles on sales continues. PlayStation 5’s leadership at the start of the new year signals that competition will be quite intense for the rest of 2026.
