Thick Thighs Save Lives
NeoGAF's Physical Games Advocate Extraordinaire
State of the market
May 2025 projected U.S. total spending on video game hardware, content and accessories grew 1% when compared to a year ago, to $4.1 billion. Year-to-date spending finished the month 6% behind 2024's pace, at $21.8 billion. May video game content spending increased 2% when compared to a year ago, to $3.7 billion. The growth was led by a 29% gain in non-mobile subscription spending when compared to May 2024.
Hardware
May 2025 hardware spending fell 13% compared to a year ago, to $172 million. Nintendo Switch spending fell 44% year-on-year, with PS5 sales growing 3%. Xbox Series spending declined by 30% compared to May 2024.
Software
The best-selling title charts now include digital PC revenues from Battle. net, Bethesda. net, EA App, Epic Games Store, Rockstar Store, Steam, Ubisoft Store and Microsoft Store for participating panel publishers. Circana will also now publish a best-selling PC titles chart each month using this aggregated PC storefront data.
Mobile
Sensor Tower: Top 10 mobile games by U.S. spend in May and chg vs Apr: MONOPOLY GO!, Royal Match, Last War: Survival, Candy Crush Saga, Whiteout Survival, Township, Coin Master, Pokémon TCG Pocket, Evony (+2) and Gossip Harbor: Merge & Story (-1).
"Gossip Harbor: Merge & Story cracked the top 10 games by US mobile revenue last month at #9 and managed to stay in the top 10 this month. The game's revenue has been steadily increasing since launch," said Sam Aune of Sensor Tower. "Another big story is Evony, which saw a 20% increase in in-app purchase revenue in May 2025 over April 2025 to claim the #9 spot this month timed with the release of a Triumphal Celebration event," Aune said.
Accessories
PlayStation 5 was once again the best-selling hardware platform in both units and dollars, while the PS5 Dual Sense Wireless Controller in Midnight Black led all accessories in both measures.
Software Charts
Year to Date
Rankings
Units: PS5 > NSW > XBS
Revenue: PS5 > XBS > NSW
Updates
Welfare's HW estimates:
May 2025 projected U.S. total spending on video game hardware, content and accessories grew 1% when compared to a year ago, to $4.1 billion. Year-to-date spending finished the month 6% behind 2024's pace, at $21.8 billion. May video game content spending increased 2% when compared to a year ago, to $3.7 billion. The growth was led by a 29% gain in non-mobile subscription spending when compared to May 2024.
Hardware
May 2025 hardware spending fell 13% compared to a year ago, to $172 million. Nintendo Switch spending fell 44% year-on-year, with PS5 sales growing 3%. Xbox Series spending declined by 30% compared to May 2024.
Software
The best-selling title charts now include digital PC revenues from Battle. net, Bethesda. net, EA App, Epic Games Store, Rockstar Store, Steam, Ubisoft Store and Microsoft Store for participating panel publishers. Circana will also now publish a best-selling PC titles chart each month using this aggregated PC storefront data.
Mobile
Sensor Tower: Top 10 mobile games by U.S. spend in May and chg vs Apr: MONOPOLY GO!, Royal Match, Last War: Survival, Candy Crush Saga, Whiteout Survival, Township, Coin Master, Pokémon TCG Pocket, Evony (+2) and Gossip Harbor: Merge & Story (-1).
"Gossip Harbor: Merge & Story cracked the top 10 games by US mobile revenue last month at #9 and managed to stay in the top 10 this month. The game's revenue has been steadily increasing since launch," said Sam Aune of Sensor Tower. "Another big story is Evony, which saw a 20% increase in in-app purchase revenue in May 2025 over April 2025 to claim the #9 spot this month timed with the release of a Triumphal Celebration event," Aune said.
Accessories
PlayStation 5 was once again the best-selling hardware platform in both units and dollars, while the PS5 Dual Sense Wireless Controller in Midnight Black led all accessories in both measures.
Software Charts
Year to Date
Rankings
Units: PS5 > NSW > XBS
Revenue: PS5 > XBS > NSW
Updates
Welfare's HW estimates:
- PS5: ~225K
- NSW: ~75K
- XBS: ~70K
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