- According to a new report, PC gaming grew by 13% in Q2 2026 compared to last year.
- Major AAA releases and indie games were responsible for this positive result for the PC sector.
- On the other hand, console gaming showed no growth, with Xbox and PlayStation revenues declining.
The AI boom has left a mark on the console industry, with rising memory prices prompting gaming giants like Xbox and PlayStation to raise hardware costs by exorbitant amounts. Thanks to these price surges, Xbox Series consoles are only expected to sell around 2.5 million units this year.
Meanwhile, PC gaming has also been hit hard, with the price tags of memory components rising by almost 150%. However, one sector has still done well for itself in 2026, and it isn’t console gaming.
Why it matters: With things already looking bleak for next-generation hardware, statistics like these won’t ease tensions among higher-ups at Xbox and PlayStation.
According to a report by investment experts Aream & Co, PC gaming grew by 13% during Q2 2026 compared to last year. The sector surged because of major AAA titles like Forza Horizon 6, 007: First Light, and Pragmata, which brought in a sizeable amount of players due to franchise recognition.
On the other hand, indie games like Subnautica 2 and Mecha Chameleon also contributed heavily, with the former going on to sell over 5 million copies. The story wasn’t the same for consoles, however, as the market showed no growth and remained stable year-on-year in Q2 2026.
Revenues for both PlayStation and Xbox fell this year, with the former down 5% and the latter down 7% compared to 2025. Thanks to the release of Switch 2, Nintendo’s revenue increased by 90%, offsetting the market share lost by the other two console giants.
With next-gen hardware not expected to cost less than $1,000 and industry experts warning current prices may never come down, the situation looks a little bleak for the industry. Xbox leadership has promised a new console model to address this issue, and it looks like this might be the only way out.
Do you think the console industry will start growing when 2027 rolls around? What needs to happen for hardware to see a resurgence worldwide? Tell us in the comments below or head to the Tech4Gamers forum for discussion.
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Shameer Sarfaraz has previously worked for eXputer as a Senior News Writer for several years. Now with Tech4Gamers, he loves to devoutly keep up with the latest gaming and entertainment industries. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and years of experience reporting on games. Besides his passion for breaking news stories, Shahmeer loves spending his leisure time farming away in Stardew Valley. VGC, IGN, GameSpot, Game Rant, TheGamer, GamingBolt, The Verge, NME, Metro, Dot Esports, GameByte, Kotaku Australia, PC Gamer, and more have cited his articles.
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