Xbox Series X|S sales in the United States have reached a historic low, falling behind a niche family motion device during Black Friday, while the PS5 Pro strengthens Sony’s already dominant position in the UK. It’s a troubling sign for Microsoft’s long-standing console strategy.

For months, it has been clear that Xbox Series X|S sales were far from ideal, but the results from this year’s Black Friday paint an even bleaker picture. November normally brings a major surge in console sales, yet this time, Microsoft’s hardware barely registered interest, especially since there were virtually no meaningful discounts to attract potential buyers.

According to Circana’s latest report, the Xbox performed so poorly that the NEX Playground, a family-oriented motion-controlled device reminiscent of the Kinect, outsold it. While the gadget had already surprised the market by briefly outselling both the PS5 and Xbox weeks earlier, during Black Friday, it fully overtook Microsoft’s console.

“In the US, PlayStation 5 accounted for 47% of all hardware sales during Black Friday week (November 22–29), leading the market. Nintendo Switch 2 followed at 24%, with the NEX Playground in third place at 14%.” Sony’s aggressive pricing strategy activated thousands of buyers, highlighting the stark contrast with the Xbox Series X|S.

Notably, the NEX Playground isn’t even a new device: after selling just 5,000 units in 2023, it jumped to 100,000 in November 2024, and projections indicate it may have sold up to 200,000 units during this year’s Black Friday week alone. Estimates suggest that only around 10 percent of US hardware sales belonged to the Xbox Series X|S, an exceptionally low figure.

Across the Atlantic, a different trend emerges in the UK, Europe’s most significant console market. Sony is experiencing a wave of success: more than five years after release, the PlayStation 5 continues to dominate with a 62 percent market share during the busiest Black Friday days, according to NielsenIQ data reported by The Game Business. Even more surprising is the PS5 Pro, which—despite criticism over its price—recorded its best sales week since launch thanks to major discounts. The Xbox Series X|S managed only 10 percent of weekly sales, while the Switch 2 secured 23 percent. Forecasts suggest the rest of Europe will mirror the UK’s results.

Source: 3djuegos