The Nintendo Switch 2 has continued its reign as the best-selling console in the United States for September 2025, both in terms of units sold and total dollar sales. This marks the fourth consecutive month of dominance for the console, according to the latest figures from Circana, formerly known as The NPD Group. The data covers a five-week period from August 31 to October 4.
Despite a challenging market environment, the Switch 2’s robust sales were sufficient to counteract significant year-on-year declines in sales for other major consoles, including the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and the original Nintendo Switch. Notably, the Switch 2 has also maintained its position as the top-selling console of 2025 year-to-date, surpassing its competitors in both units and revenue.
Video Game Market Sees Overall Growth
Overall spending on video games in September 2025 saw a notable increase of 10 percent compared to the previous year, rising from $4.39 billion to $4.84 billion. This growth was driven by an 11 percent increase in spending on video game content, which climbed from $3.91 billion to $4.32 billion. Meanwhile, hardware sales surged by 24 percent, reaching $324 million, up from $261 million. However, spending on accessories experienced a decline, falling 10 percent from $218 million to $197 million.
For the year 2025 as a whole, the video game industry has seen a modest increase in total sales, with a two percent rise from $41.44 billion to $42.17 billion. Hardware sales have been a significant contributor to this growth, with a 20 percent increase from $2.65 billion to $3.18 billion. Despite these gains, accessory sales have decreased by six percent, dropping from $1.94 billion to $1.83 billion.
Borderlands 4 Takes the Lead in Game Sales
“Borderlands 4 Led Several Hit New Releases Helping Deliver 10% Growth in September US Video Game Spending,” said Circana Executive Director and Video Game Industry Analyst Mat Piscatella. The title not only topped the charts as the best-selling premium game of September but also quickly became the third best-selling game of 2025. Its success was underscored by its status as the best-selling Xbox and PC game, and third on PlayStation.
According to Piscatella,
“Borderlands 4 generated the highest launch month dollar sales of any title in franchise history, nearly 30% higher than the previous best, Borderlands 3.”
This achievement marks the first time a Borderlands title has debuted as the best-selling game of its release month.
Other Notable Game Releases
EA Sports FC 26 made a strong debut in third place for September and ranks as the 15th best-selling game of 2025. It performed well across platforms, securing spots in the top seven best-selling games on PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo, and PC.
NBA 2K26, while dropping to second place for the month, has claimed the title of the best-selling game of 2025, surpassing Monster Hunter Wilds. Meanwhile, Ghost of Yotei, despite its limited release time, debuted impressively in fourth place overall and second on PlayStation.
Other new releases making waves include Silent Hill f, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, and Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles, each securing positions within the top 20 best-selling games of September.
Looking Ahead
The video game industry continues to demonstrate resilience and adaptability in the face of economic challenges. With the holiday season approaching, industry analysts are optimistic about continued growth, particularly in hardware sales. The Nintendo Switch 2’s ongoing success suggests a strong finish to 2025, while new game releases like Borderlands 4 are expected to maintain high consumer interest.
As the market evolves, the competition among major consoles and game developers remains fierce, promising an exciting landscape for gamers and industry stakeholders alike.
