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U.S. video game spending fell 9% year over year in August 2026, to $4.3 billion across content, hardware, and accessories. Sports games were the bright spot: NBA 2K27 was reported as the month’s best-selling game by full-game dollar sales, even though it entered early access on August 26.
How much did video game spending fall in August?
Secondary reports of Circana’s August 2026 U.S. data put total spending on video game content, hardware, and accessories at $4.3 billion, down 9% from August 2025. The figures were carried by The Fly via TipRanks and by Twisted Voxel, both attributing them to Circana. The headline number is the whole market. It is not a measure of any single category, and it is not a sales ranking.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
MLB® The Show™ 26 – PS5™ | $39.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
PGA TOUR 2K25 - PlayStation 5 | $17.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
EA SPORTS College Football 27 - Standard Edition PS5 |Disc I VideoGame | $49.94 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
EA Sports Madden NFL 27 - Standard Edition PS5 |Disc I VideoGame | $49.94 | Buy on Amazon |
What happened to hardware?
Hardware unit sales were a sharper decline than total spending. Circana data, as reported by The Fly via TipRanks, put August hardware sales at 559,000 units, down 15% year over year and the lowest August total since 2013. Units and dollars measure different things. A falling unit count can coexist with spending that falls by a smaller percentage, because content and accessory sales are included in the $4.3 billion figure and hardware units are not.
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| Measure (August 2026, U.S.) | Reported figure | Year-over-year change | Scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total video game spending | $4.3 billion | Down 9% | Content, hardware, and accessories |
| Hardware units sold | 559,000 | Down 15% | Hardware units only; lowest August total since 2013 |
Why NBA 2K27 stood out
Against a weaker market, NBA 2K27 was reported as the top-selling game of August by full-game dollar sales, according to Circana data as reported by Twisted Voxel. It also ranked third year to date. The timing makes the result more notable. NBA 2K27 entered early access on August 26, which left only the final days of the month for early access purchases to count, and it still led the monthly dollar chart.
#1 Best Overall
- MLB The Show 26 Full Game on PlayStation 5
- Includes 5 The Show Packs
- NEW Road to Cooperstown & Expanded Amateur Years Career
- Build your ultimate fantasy team with a new Red Diamond rarity tier and World Baseball Classic player cards featuring elite game-changing players
- NEW Revamped Front Office Experience Play the nail-biting key matches and moments of your Franchise GM career with streamlined seasons and Custom Game Entry
Read this as a strong result for one title, not a sign that every sports game performed well. The coverage identifies NBA 2K27 clearly but does not provide a full ranking of sports games, so no broader claim about the genre is supported.
Other top sellers named in August coverage
The same reporting named several other premium games among the month’s top sellers: Star Wars: Zero Company, Halo: Campaign Evolved, Mario Kart World, and Splatoon Raiders. Coverage did not publish a complete ordered list, so treat these as named top performers rather than a ranked order.
Rank #2
- REAL FEEL: Swing your swing and play your game with new EvoSwing mechanics—new shot types, ball flights, roll physics, and visual improvements.
- MAJOR TOURNAMENTS HAVE ARRIVED: The U.S. Open Championship, The Open Championship, and the PGA Championship make their 2K Franchise debut.
- MyCAREER AND MyPLAYER, YOUR WAY: Step into the most immersive MyCAREER yet. Dynamically simulate rounds, play through training and pre-tournament events. Be your authentic self in MyPLAYER with diverse customizations, a new Attributes Points system, upgraded Skill Trees, and an all-new Equipment Progression system.
- UNLEASH YOUR INNER COURSE ARCHITECT: Design your dream course with Course Designer! New tools, surfaces, objects, and more control with higher-res terrain. Show off your courses in all their natural beauty with an all-new camera system.
How to read Circana rankings
Circana publishes monthly chart pages under the authorship of Mat Piscatella, and those charts use Circana-specific definitions. Some chart figures can include digital sales projections. A game’s place on a dollar-sales chart is therefore a different measurement from the total industry spending figure, and the two should not be used interchangeably. Ranking by full-game dollars also excludes some spending categories, such as in-game purchases in free-to-play titles, which means a game’s position can differ from its total revenue.
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What is not yet established
- Original release wording. The August figures here come from secondary reports of Circana data. Check Circana’s official August release for exact figures and methodology notes before quoting them in a formal setting.
- Named quotes. The August coverage does not include an on-the-record comment from a named Circana spokesperson about these results.
- Platform and edition of NBA 2K27. The reporting does not specify which platforms or physical editions drove the ranking.
- Sports games as a whole. No complete sports-game ranking for August is available in the reporting.
For readers tracking the market, the practical takeaway is narrow: overall spending and hardware both declined in August 2026, and NBA 2K27 was the standout sports title in the monthly dollar chart.
Rank #3
- Standard Edition for PlayStation 5 (disc) includes the full EA SPORTS College Football 27 game.
- DYNASTY BLUEPRINT – Control your program’s future with recruiting, NIL, staff, facilities, and Athletic Director Expectations..
- ROAD TO GLORY – Build your player, explore new positions, earn NIL deals, chase the Heisman, and raise your Legacy Score.
- MASCOT MASHUP – Play as your favorite mascot, collect 120+ icons, and compete in wild 11-on-11 matchups full of school spirit.
Note: no external URLs were supplied with the source material for these figures, so the outlets are named rather than linked.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Standard Edition for PlayStation 5 (disc) includes the full EA SPORTS Madden NFL 27 game. Experience authentic NFL gameplay with Franchise mode, Superstar Career, and Ultimate Team.
- DYNAMIC FRANCHISE MODE – Persona Engine brings each NFL athlete to life with unique personalities, creating a reactive and evolving league shaped by your decisions.
- AUTHENTIC NFL GAMEPLAY – Realistic WR vs DB battles, improved coverage, and new short-yardage mechanics deliver true on-field physicality and control.
- BUILD YOUR LEGACY – Progress through the Superstar G.O.A.T. Career Journey and customize your roster with Ultimate Team Captains.
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