Microsoft’s Xbox Series consoles recorded their strongest sales month of 2026 in the United States, according to new data shared by Circana analyst Mat Piscatella.
Posting on Bluesky, Piscatella said Xbox Series hardware sales in June 2026 increased by 86% year over year, marking the platform’s best monthly performance of the year. While the growth represents a significant improvement over the same period in 2025, he noted that it comes from what remains a relatively modest sales base.
“We are still talking about a relatively low base. In any case, it is a positive moment,” Piscatella said.
Piscatella suggested that multiple factors likely contributed to the increase in Xbox hardware sales.
Among them were the release of Forza Horizon 6, anticipation of planned hardware price increases, growing excitement surrounding Grand Theft Auto VI, promotional discounts offered by retailers and Microsoft’s recent strategic initiatives.
The annual Xbox Games Showcase, held during June, may also have boosted consumer interest by revealing upcoming titles and updates for the Xbox platform.
Exclusive Games Return to Microsoft’s Strategy
During the Xbox Games Showcase, Asha Sharma, head of Microsoft’s gaming division, reaffirmed the company’s renewed focus on first-party exclusives.
She stated that Gears of War: E-Day is expected to remain exclusive to Xbox and PC, with no announced plans for release on PlayStation 5 or Nintendo Switch 2. Microsoft also identified Clockwork Revolution as another title expected to follow a similar release strategy.
The renewed emphasis on exclusive games marks a notable shift after several Microsoft-owned titles expanded to competing platforms in recent years.
The year-over-year increase also reflects the unusually challenging market conditions Xbox faced in June 2025.
That period coincided with the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2, while Microsoft also implemented price increases for Xbox hardware. Combined with the availability of several Xbox titles on competing platforms, those factors contributed to comparatively weaker console sales during the same month last year.
Against that backdrop, June 2026 represented a meaningful improvement, even if overall hardware sales remain below historical highs.
Despite stronger console sales, Microsoft’s first-party software did not dominate monthly game sales rankings.
According to Piscatella, Forza Horizon 6 finished seventh among the top-selling games for the month, trailing titles including Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream, Meccha Chameleon and EA Sports UFC 6.
The results suggest that while Xbox hardware experienced renewed momentum, software competition remained intense across multiple platforms.
