A survey by Circana, an American market research and technology company, shows that most US gamers still decide whether to buy a PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, or other console based on their exclusive games. This likely won't surprise most gamers, as it has been the case for years. However, a few subtle shifts in consumer behavior in 2026 could catch their attention, especially for those invested in the long-running console rivalry between PlayStation and Xbox.
One notable change compared to last year's data is that the number of players choosing a console based on exclusives has dropped by 8%. In other words, there's a slight shift toward picking the best gaming console based on other factors, such as performance or price. It's difficult to pinpoint exactly what's driving this change, but one likely explanation is Xbox and PlayStation loosening their grip on exclusive IPs over the past year, with games like Forza Horizon coming to PlayStation 5 and Helldivers 2 launching on the Xbox Series X/S.
Despite the 8% decline, the Circana Q1 2026 report shows that a majority of consumers in the US, 41% of those surveyed, still view big-budget exclusive games as the deciding factor when purchasing...
