Ethan Crossfield 
After a tough start for the U.S. market, June 2026 delivered a clear signal: spending fell year over year while a new UFC entry captured the top spot for game sales. According to Circana’s latest analyst report, overall U.S. video game spending dropped 21% in June compared to June 2025—an easier comparison than it sounds, since June 2025 benefited from the record-breaking launch of the Nintendo Switch 2.
Why June 2026 looked weaker than it might have
U.S. video game spending totaled $4.5 billion in June 2026, down 21% versus June 2025. The report notes that the decline is partly explained by how strong June 2025 was, including the Switch 2’s launch momentum. In other words, June 2026 wasn’t just “worse”—it was measured against an unusually high baseline.
The hardware side showed the clearest contraction. U.S. video game hardware spending fell 62% year over year to $383 million. Switch 2 hardware sales were down even more sharply against last year’s launch month, dropping 79% compared to Switch 2’s launch month in the prior year—something the report frames as expected given how large a launch window can be.
Still, Switch 2 remained the best-selling hardware in June 2026, both by units sold and dollars, with PlayStation 5 ranking second across the same measures.
EA Sports UFC 6 leads the June sales chart
EA Sports UFC 6 topped the list for best-selling games of 2026 in the U.S. for physical and full game digital dollar sales. The rest of the top five followed a familiar pattern of blockbuster releases and high-profile Nintendo presence:
Meccha Chameleon placed second, 007 First Light was third, and Star Fox rounded out the top four. Star Fox’s entry is tied to the recently released Nintendo Switch 2 remake of Star Fox 64.
The full top 10 for U.S. spending included: Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight; Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream; Forza Horizon 6; MLB: The Show 26; Minecraft; and NBA 2K26.
Content segments shift: subs grow while accessories fall
Looking beyond individual titles, content spending (games and related content) fell 12% in June 2026 versus June 2025, landing at $3.9 billion. However, the year-to-date picture is steadier: content dollars are flat compared to 2025, sitting at $24.3 billion.
Subscription services were the standout exception. They were the only content segment to grow last month, rising 7% compared to June 2025. Mobile spending, meanwhile, was down—described as unusual in the report.
Hardware fragmentation also shows up in the accessory numbers. June accessories spending dropped 21% year over year to $232 million, while controller spending specifically fell 31%.
Key points
- U.S. game spending fell 21% in June 2026 to $4.5 billion, against a June 2025 boosted by Switch 2 launch momentum.
- EA Sports UFC 6 led U.S. physical and full digital game sales; Star Fox benefited from the Switch 2 remake of Star Fox 64.
- Hardware spending dropped 62% year over year; Switch 2 still led June sales by both units and dollars.
- Subscriptions grew (+7%) while content overall declined (-12%); accessories and controller spending fell sharply.
June 2026 U.S. spending highlights (year over year)
| Category | June 2026 result | Year-over-year change (vs June 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Total video game spending | $4.5 billion | -21% |
| Video game hardware spending | $383 million | -62% |
| Content spending (games, etc.) | $3.9 billion | -12% |
| Accessories spending | $232 million | -21% |
Expert View
The numbers suggest a market that’s stabilizing by category but still highly sensitive to platform cycles. The Switch 2’s ability to stay on top of June hardware—despite steep year-over-year drops—highlights how launch-year comparisons can distort headline results. For publishers and competitive communities, EA Sports UFC 6’s leadership reinforces that sports franchises can still dominate when broader spending softens, while the growth in subscriptions points to a continued shift toward ongoing value rather than one-off purchases.
