Overview
- Sales data shared by Christopher Dring shows Xbox console units fell about 39% in the UK in 2025, marking the brand’s worst year there.
- PlayStation 5 also declined year over year in the UK, though reports indicate the drop was smaller than Xbox’s.
- Market pressures included multiple Xbox price increases and fewer promotions, while Circana reported the worst U.S. November on record with average hardware prices hitting $439.
- Microsoft’s strategy has leaned into PC, cloud and releasing former Xbox exclusives on rival platforms, with six of the top 10 PS5 best-sellers between April and July coming from Microsoft.
- Coverage also notes layoffs and canceled projects during 2025, and Microsoft has signaled an update on upcoming titles with a January Dev Direct.