PS5 US sales rose 22% in September 2026, per analyst Mat Piscatella

PlayStation 5 sales in the United States increased by 22% in September 2026 compared to the same month the previous year, according to data published by Circana analyst Mat Piscatella. The figures contrast sharply with declines recorded across competing hardware lines during the same monthly tracking window.

Circana Data Shows Contrasting Hardware Trends

The latest market tracking from Circana indicates that while Sony’s console maintained upward momentum, rivals experienced significant drops in the United States market. Microsoft’s Series X/S sales fell by 27% year-over-year, marking what analysts described as the platform’s weakest September performance on record. Nintendo’s Switch 2 saw a 14% decrease over the same comparative window.

According to Piscatella, the strong showing for PlayStation 5 was driven in large part by the market arrival of Insomniac’s Marvel’s Wolverine, alongside mounting consumer anticipation for Grand Theft Auto 6.

Marvel's Wolverine Tops US Retail Software Charts

Insomniac’s Marvel’s Wolverine claimed the number-one spot on the United States retail software charts for September 2026. The top-ten sales list compiled by Circana also included NBA 2K27, EA Sports FC 27, Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave, The Blood of Dawnwalker, Wardogs, Onimusha: Way of the Sword, Halloween: The Game, Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve, and Madden NFL 27.

Industry analysts noted that physical retail charts omit digital storefront figures for several included titles, meaning the rankings do not capture total ecosystem sales. Market observers pointed out that the continued hardware growth effectively counterbalances recent consumer boycotts and online protests organized by segments of the player base advocating against the decline of physical media, suggesting those demonstrations represent a minority viewpoint within the wider gaming demographic.