# Circana: Nintendo Switch 2 helped US physical game spending increase year-on-year for first time since 2009

> **Newsylist Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-06-26 13:21 UTC · Category: Technology · Sources: 7 · Current Velocity: 4.63

## Executive Summary
The Nintendo Switch 2 has driven the first year-on-year increase in US physical game spending since 2009.

## Intelligence Brief
Physical game spending in the US has risen year-on-year for the first time in 17 years, fueled by the Nintendo Switch 2. According to VGChartz, the Switch 2 was the best-selling hardware in the US in May 2026, while 007 First Light debuted at first place.


Coverage from Circana, GamesIndustry.biz, and Wccftech highlights the impact of the Switch 2, which IGN reports is the second fastest-selling hardware in US history after 12 months. Conversely, Forbes and Kotaku report that Xbox hardware unit sales saw their worst May ever, and PlayStation experienced its lowest sales since 2000.


Future developments involve the long-term viability of physical media, as one analyst cited by Metro.co.uk predicts physical games will not exist in less than a decade.

## Verified Facts & Key Claims
### When was the last time US physical game spending increased year-on-year?
Prior to this trend, the last year-on-year increase occurred in 2009.

### How is the Nintendo Switch 2 performing in the US market?
It was the best-seller in May 2026 and is the second fastest-selling hardware in US history after 12 months.

### What is the current status of Xbox and PlayStation sales?
Xbox hardware unit sales had their worst May ever, and PlayStation sales reached their lowest point since 2000.

## Key People, Organizations & Locations
Years, Switch, Nintendo Switch, Physical, Best-Seller, Circana Nintendo Switch, Led US Physical Games, YoY Spending Increase for the First Time

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Published (UTC) | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metro.co.uk | Physical games will not exist in 'less than a decade' predicts analyst | 2026-06-25 12:13 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiowFBVV95cUxPRjZBbjdMLVRsdFEtZXJrMkcxTE01dkVha2xLN0FBc3A1c21GLXFwcXN2T29DZm1zUFB2OG5mb1Y2QTEwN0E1eWFxUV81WEVJQjBTRl9ONVlSa1ZGZ3YzdThldmE1VFZ1RWNIOTRUdGFUUy1qU2JqM3hWSTR5emlZNmlCWkgzTGdJdnNqN0ZUWDFxUFE0ODJTdm5WSDdWSi1hb0pn0gGoAUFVX3lxTE50c3h3d04yanRlWVBubXhTTVh5d1ktQVZseEIzQXZyTWlpSWl4N1p5QTZQTUxXcWxLX0ZueWF6dEVzZFhRWk9WdjMwd0toT21Ld0NUd2xyTWk2Sm1WVUlvM1lzM1pEeUptbDc2YjNoY1BzUXlxWTA5dGVLVnlwb3dxcUQ4SkxnU2ZmbFFuMV9JcmRiWkNnS0JiYWFVU1dPTm5EU2RuMmxRdg?oc=5) |
| Wccftech | The Nintendo Switch 2 Led US Physical Games to a YoY Spending Increase for the First Time in 17 Years | 2026-06-25 12:13 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMifEFVX3lxTE9DZHdWWFliX3VfS3pWOWw5MlNxakRlRHRsV3B6aXEzUXAwMlQ4aS16T1d6OE1FaG90TDgwY2R4bUlVMXIzbzd4TFdpQ3ZlcFVubDRobGFCVFZnY0hBVHdpNnhYc3p6TUtraUc2RWY3UEtTZ043VVdzczMxLVbSAYIBQVVfeXFMTmJiZFIwUmxYdm9rRENiVDFZNGFMZm1wTDB5SzRFZkdCTnNQQTNneXdlR0dMNjgteURfajZ3NmcwU2FheTVNZEwzZVdVSEtPT2dSTm9PRmRyUnVENzE2M0oxakdIZ2lZdmZXeUVLaG5KUnJmMGRmOUI2S0tTRUJ3UXhJUQ?oc=5) |
| VGChartz | Switch 2 Best-Seller in the US in May 2026, 007 First Light Debuts in 1st | 2026-06-25 12:13 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiswFBVV95cUxPR2tZelBnd2NKeDVwa0R6Sl9YTTZ4bWRQMFpGOWYxOXEyd3Zwa2s3dVNJVHJQbXFhN1ZLV01SS0ZQU2xrakhXWERHRjd1Zy1UdkpvdXFBNjFxdkRQNThuYzZMZHRJUlpjUWc1R0RGSFBSSTZYSFAwZ1FaSm11dnluYWxYT1NEUlBULVNSVi1lSDdxR3RQV0tZbjZvUHFkRkVFM0VkS3d0TkJMUXJBUThZeVhYOA?oc=5) |
| Forbes | Xbox Sales Are Its Lowest Ever This Month, PlayStation Its Lowest Since 2000 | 2026-06-25 12:13 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMixAFBVV95cUxNMTBiUGxMMUg3YjFPaE5FMjQyUFNlY2E0QjNQd2tpUkVkVm9SMHlvMXFtSDliTGl5OTJmOERVdFNuR01FU3U5ZG5XUE9jSXdoaFc3STZsYUNnQXZ3SFQwNXJQMldEbmdlNUR5RXcwYTZQQklwNGc2WE0tQ2FLUG43N0dRYmtWXzk3bmpqSFpWU2FuM2tEMDctR1pYODlac1AyOFBpc3F5X3I0cE5MckZ6aEVZckdiV2dEWC11Zi1QbjBFMWRI?oc=5) |
| Kotaku | Xbox Hardware Unit Sales Just Had Their Worst May In The U.S. Ever, And PlayStation Didn’t Do So Hot Either | 2026-06-25 12:13 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMihgFBVV95cUxNWXBRaTdsUGs5LWcwS1llUlVfMU5jc2VURnY0QmdXRlUtcjRKNVdVaVFSLUNld05tMmNFcXIyQWM1MzhFMzNqcUc5bjEyZEtBLXBEOWVOVEEzVlU0QmFZUzNzbXdOY1ZLU1ZzbDZFdUVaNlFsLUJKNVRpM2xhR1ZUMVdiclpnUQ?oc=5) |
| IGN | Nintendo Switch 2 Second Fastest-Selling Hardware in U.S. History After 12 Months | 2026-06-25 12:13 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi_AFBVV95cUxNQlVQUGQ0aHdsZk1xaTF2UzFMNU1MTkp6R0NPVTVoSlFadmluRHZOb0xvOS05QldvY3YtaUh5dFc4c2pjRmtQNHNHT3RaOVQ1ME5lWTFwd2lVQnlNRVczTlBJMUJpRE53WE9qM3BDRlNQeG5xNnpYUnllM3pnMlpTRFBIQTJ0a1k5a3p2eG5XblhYOWw2T1hublJjY3gyUTZKamNxQTB3SXpLdkRHa20zUF8weTJSaWZieEtMSHowcDhRbGxTTWM4dkFWeW1feEhLTXJHUWN0NmdaRWJRUE5UR0p3STVJeHZkNGtNT0NtSnRCTDlrcGdkT3BNRWc?oc=5) |
| GamesIndustry.biz | Circana: Nintendo Switch 2 helped US physical game spending increase year-on-year for first time since 2009 | 2026-06-25 12:13 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi0gFBVV95cUxPZEExOW16NGxxeE1XWDc0a3lRdm9vVmtMVEZRdFdaNjlfS2xGOWt5cHV0TVZHU19YRTRkeWFVSWJ2UmpYUTBVMGxnZWhUV2VjbGZiYnNINVY0VkpNdGl5WmdWcWJiZWkxRjNIQVh4NmdZTFZuRTd4WGo5cWFpbjNxc2ZBajN5MkZ0cUxZSk9LclU1dTVKeWRPaS1Gam9lNGZfcl9JeXBvWU91RVdIc0o1cnRkWWhtRjRHcnRYTzFfWjJFMjBUaS1IUTNNWm5aM09kWkE?oc=5) |

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*Canonical Source: https://www.newsylist.com/trend/2026-06-26/circana-nintendo-switch-2-helped-us-physical-game-spending-increase-year-on*
*Synthesized by Newsylist Open Intelligence Engine under E-E-A-T journalistic standards.*