September 2026 Spending (USD, Millions)
Total: $4,756 (-1% vs YA)
Content: $4,177 (-2%)
Hardware: $362 (+12%)
Accessories: $218 (+10%)
Marvel’s Wolverine Helped PlayStation Claw Big Gains in September US Video Game Sales
US video game projected total spending across content, hardware and accessories fell 1% in September when compared to a year ago, to $4.8 billion. Year-to-date spending is now 3% behind 2025’s pace, at $41.0 billion.
Marvel’s Wolverine debuted as the best-selling game of September and delivered the highest launch month dollar sales for a Sony published game since February 2024’s Helldivers II. At the same time, PlayStation 5 hardware dollar sales increased by 43% compared to a year ago, helping Sony achieve its highest hardware dollar share in a month since May 2025.
Eight of the top ten best-selling games of September were new releases. However, it was NBA 2K27 that ranked 2nd in the month as it surpassed Resident Evil: Requiem to become the best-selling game of 2026 year-to-date.
Top 10 Selling Video Games (Retail and Digital) Month Ending September 2026
Rank | Rank Last Month | Title | Publisher |
1 | NEW | Marvel's Wolverine^ | Sony (Corp) |
2 | 1 | NBA 2K27^ | Take-Two Interactive |
3 | NEW | EA Sports FC 27* | Electronic Arts |
4 | NEW | Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave* | Nintendo |
5 | NEW | The Blood of Dawnwalker^ | Bandai Namco Entertainment |
6 | NEW | Wardogs* | Team17 |
7 | NEW | Onimusha: Way of the Sword^ | Capcom USA |
8 | NEW | Halloween: The Game* | IllFonic Publishing |
9 | NEW | Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve^ | Bandai Namco Entertainment |
10 | 2 | Madden NFL 27* | Electronic Arts |
^ Includes Digital Point of Sale Actuals - * Includes Digital Sales Projections
Top 10 Selling Video Games (Retail and Digital), Year-to-Date 2026
Rank | Rank Last Month | Title | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | 3 | NBA 2K27^ | Take-Two Interactive |
2 | 1 | Resident Evil: Requiem^ | Capcom USA |
3 | 2 | 007 First Light* | IO Interactive |
4 | 4 | MLB: The Show 26^* | Multiple Video Game Publishers |
5 | 5 | Crimson Desert* | Pearl Abyss |
6 | 6 | Call of Duty: Black Ops II* | Microsoft (Corp) |
7 | 7 | Forza Horizon 6* | Microsoft (Corp) |
8 | 8 | Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream* | Nintendo |
9 | 9 | LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight^ | Warner Bros. Games |
10 | 10 | Pokemon: Pokopia* | Nintendo |
^ Includes Digital Point of Sale Actuals - * Includes Digital Sales Projections
Hardware Key Takeaways
September video game hardware spending grew 12% when compared to a year ago, to $362 million. Year-to-date hardware spending trails 2025’s pace by 9%, at $2.9 billion.
PlayStation 5 hardware dollar sales grew 43% in September when compared to a year ago. Spending fell year-on-year for both Xbox Series (-2%) and Nintendo Switch 2 (-12%).
Sony’s dollar share of the video game hardware market reached its highest point in a month since May 2025. PlayStation 5 led all hardware platforms in both unit and dollar sales in September.
Total video game hardware unit sales fell 3% in September compared to a year ago. PlayStation 5 unit sales increased by 22% year-on-year, with Switch 2 unit sales falling 14% and Xbox Series dropping 27%.
Xbox Ecosystem console unit sales fell to an all-time September low. The previous record low was set a year ago.
Content Key Takeaways
Total content spending fell 2% in September when compared to a year ago, to $4.2 billion. Year-to-date content spending is also 2% behind 2025’s pace, at $36.3 billion.
Mobile was again the primary driver of the content spending decline in the month as spend fell 14% versus a year ago, according to Sensor Tower. Console spending increased by 8%, while PC grew 27%.
Non-mobile subscription spending fell 5% in September when compared to a year ago. It was the first monthly year-on-year drop in subscription spending since February 2024.
Marvel’s Wolverine was the best-selling game of September in full game dollar sales, debuting as 2026’s 11th best-selling game overall.
Marvel’s Wolverine generated the highest launch month full game dollar sales for a Sony published title since the February 2024 debut of Helldivers II.
NBA 2K27 surpassed Resident Evil: Requiem to become the best-selling game of 2026 year-to-date. NBA 2K27 ranked 2nd overall in September behind only Marvel’s Wolverine.
Eight of the top ten best-selling games of September were new releases. Also appearing among the top 5 best-sellers of the month were EA Sports FC 27 (3rd), Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave (4th) and The Blood of Dawnwalker (5th).
Accessories Key Takeaways
September accessories spending grew 10% when compared to a year ago, to $218 million. Gamepad spending increased by 9% when compared to September 2025.
The PS5 Limited Edition DualSense Wireless Controller Wolverine Battle Yellow gamepad was September’s best-selling accessory in both units and dollars.
