The Console Market Is About to Collapse

The console market could be heading for a massive decline. New estimates from S&P Global Market Intelligence Kagan predict global console shipments will fall 19.5% in 2026, dropping from 42.1 million units to just 33.9 million. Shipments could fall even further in 2027 as the RAM and storage crisis pushes hardware prices higher. The forecast estimates Nintendo will ship 17.1 million Switch 2 consoles in 2026, while Sony ships 13.2 million PS5s and Microsoft ships only 2.5 million Xbox Series X|S consoles.Analysts also believe PS6 and the next Xbox may launch at prices between $600 and $800 if component costs do not improve. So even with GTA 6 approaching, the console business may be entering one of its most difficult periods yet.Let’s break down what these estimates mean for PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo and the future of console gaming.