The U.S. video game market showed steady growth in September 2025, with total spending reaching $4.841 billion, marking a 10% increase compared to the same month last year. Analysts attribute this growth to a combination of new game releases, the continued performance of the Nintendo Switch 2, and rising revenues from non-mobile subscription services. Mat Piscatella noted that this was the fifth consecutive month of year-over-year revenue growth, highlighting the resilience of the market despite U.S. annual inflation reaching 2.9% in August 2025.
Hardware Sales Driven by Switch 2
Hardware sales grew 24% year-over-year to $324 million in September. The Nintendo Switch 2 was a key driver of this growth, compensating for declines in PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S|X, and the original Nintendo Switch, which all posted double-digit sales drops. Over the first nine months of 2025, total hardware sales reached $3.18 billion, up from $2.65 billion in the same period of 2024. Spending on accessories fell 10% year-over-year to $197 million, reflecting lower demand for controllers, though the DualSense remained the top-selling accessory and the Switch 2 Pro Controller led annual accessory sales. Remote Play device sales declined 9%, yet over 5% of U.S. PlayStation 5 owners purchased a PlayStation Portal, suggesting continued interest in companion devices.
Content and Subscription Revenue Growth
Content sales in September rose 11% year-over-year to $4.3 billion. Subscription services saw the largest increase, rising 32% compared to September 2024. Console game sales increased 12%, and mobile gaming contributed a 4% growth. These figures indicate that while traditional game sales remain strong, subscription-based models are becoming a significant revenue source within the U.S. market.
Borderlands 4 and Key Releases
Borderlands 4 was the most prominent release of September, achieving the best launch in the franchise’s history. Revenue for the title was nearly 30% higher than Borderlands 3, and it debuted at number one in the U.S. market. Gearbox also released a patch addressing “major balance tuning,” modifying certain skills to meet player expectations.
Other notable releases included EA Sports FC 26, Ghost of Yotei, Silent Hill: f, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles, NHL 26, Digimon Story: Time Stranger, and the Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 compilation. Ghost of Yotei performed on par with the original Ghost of Tsushima, though Circana noted that Tsushima’s 2020 launch occurred during the pandemic, which significantly influenced its early performance.
Borderlands 4 quickly became the third best-selling game of 2025 in the U.S. by year-to-date revenue. EA Sports FC 26 ranked 15th overall, and Ghost of Yotei placed 18th. NBA 2K26 remained the best-selling game of the first nine months of 2025, surpassing Monster Hunter: Wilds, while MLB The Show 25 became the second most successful entry in its series. Mobile titles MONOPOLY GO!, Royal Match, Candy Crush Saga, Roblox, and Coin Master led mobile revenue in September.
Platform Performance and Trends
On PlayStation, Ghost of Yotei lost the top spot to NBA 2K26, while Helldivers II maintained fourth place on Xbox. Nintendo experienced a strong debut for the Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 compilation. Notably, EA Sports FC 26 ranked higher than NBA 2K26 on Switch, suggesting that Switch 2 owners may favor football over basketball. PC revenue charts were generally consistent with console rankings, except Digimon Story: Time Stranger reached the second position for the month.
Looking Ahead
The U.S. gaming market in September 2025 demonstrates ongoing resilience, supported by strong hardware sales, successful new releases, and the growth of subscription models. As console adoption continues and new titles are released, the sector is expected to maintain a positive trajectory for the remainder of 2025.
Source: GameDevReports
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What was the total revenue for the U.S. gaming market in September 2025?
The U.S. video game market generated $4.841 billion in September 2025, a 10% increase compared to the same month in 2024.
Which new release performed best in September 2025?
Borderlands 4 had the strongest launch, becoming the first game in the series to debut at number one in the U.S. and generating nearly 30% more revenue than Borderlands 3.
How did hardware sales fare in September 2025?
Hardware sales rose 24% year-over-year to $324 million, largely driven by Nintendo Switch 2, while PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S|X, and the original Switch saw double-digit declines.
Which game titles were notable in September 2025?
In addition to Borderlands 4, key releases included EA Sports FC 26, Ghost of Yotei, Silent Hill: f, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles, NHL 26, Digimon Story: Time Stranger, and the Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 compilation.
What trends were observed in content and subscription revenue?
Content sales rose 11% year-over-year to $4.3 billion, driven by a 32% increase in subscription services, 12% growth in console game sales, and 4% growth in mobile gaming revenue.
How did mobile gaming perform in September 2025?
Top-grossing mobile games included MONOPOLY GO!, Royal Match, Candy Crush Saga, Roblox, and Coin Master, highlighting continued interest in mobile titles despite slower growth compared to subscriptions and console games.
What were the platform-specific trends in September 2025?
On PlayStation, NBA 2K26 surpassed Ghost of Yotei for the top spot, while Helldivers II remained fourth on Xbox. The Switch saw a strong launch for the Super Mario Galaxy compilation, with EA Sports FC 26 ranking above NBA 2K26, suggesting player preferences differ by platform. PC charts largely mirrored console trends, with Digimon Story: Time Stranger taking the second-highest revenue position.
