What Do Consoles Cost in 2026, and Why Are Sales Falling?
Every major console got more expensive in 2026, and shipments are on track to drop 19.5% to 33.9 million units this year according to S&P Global Market Intelligence Kagan. Component shortages, particularly in RAM and storage, are the common thread behind every price hike, and that same pressure is now showing up in hardware sales data across the board.
PS5, Xbox Series X, and Switch 2 Price Changes
Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo have all raised prices this year, though the size and timing differ by platform.
Sony raised U.S. prices effective April 2, 2026: the standard PS5 went from $549.99 to $649.99, the Digital Edition from $499.99 to $599.99, and the PS5 Pro from $749.99 to $899.99, according to PlayStation’s own pricing announcement. The PlayStation Portal remote player also moved to $249.99.
Microsoft’s increase landed later and hit harder in percentage terms. Starting August 1, 2026, XBOX console prices rose by $100 for 512 GB models and $150 for 1 TB models, with the 2 TB model discontinued entirely, as detailed on XBOX Wire. That followed an earlier $20 to $70 increase in October 2025. Microsoft attributed the hikes to storage and memory costs that have “increased by more than 2.5x,” with another doubling expected by fall 2027.
Nintendo’s move was more modest in dollar terms. The Switch 2 MSRP rose from $449.99 to $499.99 starting September 1, 2026, which Nintendo attributed to “changes in market conditions” expected to persist over the medium to long term, according to Nintendo’s official pricing update. Pricing for the original Nintendo Switch was left unchanged.
How Are Game and Accessory Costs Affecting Players?
Console prices are only part of the squeeze. U.S. video game spending across content, hardware, and accessories fell 10% year-over-year in July 2026 to $4.52 billion, according to Circana’s industry data. Hardware spending dropped 29% to $282 million, its lowest July total since 2020, while total hardware units sold fell 39% even as the average selling price of a new unit jumped 16% to $542.
Accessories told a more mixed story. Overall accessories spending slipped 6% to $178 million, the weakest July since 2019, but that masked sharp swings within the category: racing controller spending fell 26% year-over-year, while cases and organizers rose 36%, per the same Circana breakdown covered in Media Play News’ reporting. Subscription spending was the only category that grew, up 6% versus a year earlier.
Physical software is also shifting. Sony has announced it will stop producing physical software for new games starting January 2028, and physical disc sales for PlayStation hardware already account for just 32% of year-to-date consumer spending on new physical games, compared with 63% for Nintendo platforms.
Why Are Console Shipments Forecast to Decline?
Shipments are falling because hardware is priced above what a lot of buyers are willing to pay, while the software lineup thin enough that it isn’t pulling new buyers in. S&P analyst Neil Barbour described it as “a compounding problem: hardware that is either too old or too expensive for the median consumer, a software slate that is thin outside a handful of tentpole releases, and a macro environment that keeps any meaningful price relief off the table,” in the same GamesIndustry.biz analysis.
The breakdown by platform is uneven. PS5 shipments are projected to fall from 17.1 million units in 2025 to 13.2 million in 2026. Xbox Series X|S shipments, already at a record low of 3.2 million in 2025, are forecast to drop further to 2.5 million in 2026. Switch 2 is projected at 17.1 million units for the 2026 calendar year, still a decline of 16.9% from Nintendo’s own fiscal-year figures, partly because the next major tentpole title, Pokémon Wind and Waves, isn’t expected until late 2027.
S&P expects the broader market to keep shrinking to roughly 27.1 million units in 2027 before a gradual recovery to 37.4 million units by 2030, assuming component costs ease enough for Sony and Microsoft to launch next-generation hardware in the $600 to $800 range.
How Can Selling an Old Console Fund Your Next Purchase?
Selling a console you’re not using regularly can offset a meaningful chunk of a new PS5, Xbox, or Switch 2 purchase, especially now that upgrade prices have jumped across the board. The value you get depends heavily on model, condition, and what’s included, and knowing current benchmarks helps you set realistic expectations before you request a quote.
What Are Popular Used Consoles Worth Right Now?
Resale values vary widely by platform and generation. As of August 2026, general cash buyback benchmarks for excellent-to-good condition units with original controller and cables looked like this, according to a rundown of used console cash values:
Console | Estimated Cash Value |
PS5 Disc Edition | 360 |
PS5 Digital Edition | 290 |
PS5 Pro | 460 |
Xbox Series X | 320 |
Xbox Series S | 180 |
Nintendo Switch 2 | 340 |
Nintendo Switch OLED | 210 |
Nintendo Switch (original) | 130 |
Older hardware still carries value, too: PS4 Pro units run 150, Xbox One X 120, and Switch Lite 90 in the same condition range. Handhelds like the Steam Deck OLED 512GB (360) and Asus ROG Ally X (430) hold up well against dedicated consoles.
Original Switch pricing has softened since the Switch 2 launched, dropping roughly 20% according to IGN’s resale tracking cited in that same benchmark rundown. If you’re sitting on an original Switch, that’s a reason to sell sooner rather than later.
When Should You Sell, and What Affects Your Offer?
Condition and completeness move your quote more than almost anything else. A console with a working disc drive, intact housing, and original accessories typically commands $40 to $100 more than the same model in poor shape. Moving from excellent to good condition can reduce a payout by 10 to 20%, and moving from good to fair can cut it another 15 to 25%.
Extra controllers, headsets, and original packaging all add value to a bundle. An Xbox Series X sold with two controllers and a headset returns more than the console alone. Even broken or incomplete consoles retain value for parts, so a non-working unit is rarely worth zero.
Timing matters less than condition, but waiting rarely helps. Game library growth doesn’t raise hardware value, and new model announcements tend to put downward pressure on older stock. If you’ve already moved on from a console, selling while demand is stable makes more sense than holding it in a closet.
Before shipping anything, back up your data, sign out of your account, and run a factory reset. For PS5 specifically, that means removing your PSN account and deactivating the console; for Xbox, Microsoft’s own support guidance walks through disassociating the console from the Insider Program and resetting to factory settings before it changes hands.
How Can Gizmogo Turn Old Hardware Into Cash?
Gizmogo buys consoles in any condition, including broken or incomplete units, and pays out through PayPal, Zelle, check, or e-check. The process starts with an instant quote based on your model and condition, followed by a prepaid shipping label so you’re not covering postage out of pocket.
You can see model-specific listings when you go to sell your PlayStation console or check pricing tiers for the PS5 specifically, which separate standard, Slim, Pro, and Digital Edition offers. Nintendo sellers get a similar breakdown through the Nintendo trade-in page, covering everything from Switch 2 down to older 3DS and DS models.
Accurate condition reporting keeps your quote intact. If an inspection turns up damage that wasn’t disclosed, the offer can be revised, so it pays to describe scratches, missing accessories, or functional issues upfront rather than after the fact. Cleaning the console, gathering original cables and controllers, and including the box if you still have it all help support a stronger initial quote, a point echoed across Gizmogo’s own guide to selling a used PS5.
For readers weighing multiple options, it helps to compare a buyback platform against marketplaces and local stores before committing, a process covered in more depth in this walkthrough on selling a console online.
Keep Playing Without Paying Full Price
Console prices climbed across every major platform in 2026, and shipment forecasts point to a genuine slowdown rather than a temporary dip. Selling an old PS5, Xbox Series X, or Switch console you’re no longer using is a straightforward way to offset the cost of upgrading, provided you go in with realistic expectations about condition and current resale benchmarks.
Check your console’s model, condition, and accessories against current buyback ranges before you request a quote. Factory reset the device, sign out of your accounts, and pack it with whatever original cables or controllers you still have.
Prices on new hardware aren’t likely to drop back to 2025 levels anytime soon, given the component pressures both Sony and Microsoft have described. Turning unused hardware into cash now is a practical way to soften that increase without giving up the hobby.