“Hello everyone, this is your tech correspondent. Today I'm here to share some news that has the industry "stunned"—or even "horrified."Every November is undoubtedly a fiercely contested battleground for the European and American retail markets. Logically, riding the wave of Black Friday and serving as the opening salvo for the Christmas holiday season, game sales should be booming at this time—so strong that retailers would be smiling in their sleep.However, IGN's latest bombshell report delivers a resounding slap to the market—November 2025 marks the worst month for physical game hardware and software sales in the U.S. since 1995.Yes, you're seeing it right—time seems to have rolled back 30 years. What on earth happened? Have gamers lost their passion for video games, or have our wallets truly shrunk this much? Let's dissect this "perfect storm" sweeping the gaming world.
📉 Shocking figures: A time warp back to 30 years ago
According to IGN citing data from Circana (formerly the NPD Group), last month's gaming market performance can only be described as an "avalanche-like decline."Consider this: What was 1995 like? It was the era when the original PlayStation and SEGA Saturn were just beginning to make their mark in the U.S. market. Today, we're already in the mid-to-late stages of the next-gen console cycle, where the market scale should be incomparable. Yet sales figures have suffered a crushing defeat, regressing back to the dial-up internet era.This isn't something that can be brushed off with just the phrase "sluggish sales." It signifies that the entire industry chain—from hardware manufacturers to game developers—has been left out in the cold during what should have been a highly profitable month.
🎮 Sluggish Hardware Sales: The Awkward Transition Period
Why is this happening? First, we must look at the hardware market. By 2025, the current console generation (PS5, Xbox Series X/S) will have reached the end of its lifecycle—the so-called "twilight period."Taiwanese gamers often say "buy new, not old." At this awkward juncture, many hardcore gamers have already purchased their current consoles, while casual gamers are waiting to see the rumored next-generation upgrades (like Switch 2 or PS5 Pro). This "gap period" has completely stifled hardware sales momentum.Without the allure of new hardware, price cuts alone are clearly failing to sway cost-conscious consumers.
💿 Lack of killer apps to ignite demand
As the saying goes, "A flower needs green leaves to complement it," but in the gaming world, "A console needs blockbuster titles to drive it." Looking back at this November, it seems to have lacked that killer app capable of driving everyone wild and prompting overnight queues.When the market lacks blockbuster AAA titles capable of generating buzz—like Grand Theft Auto, The Legend of Zelda, or Elden Ring—players' purchasing desire naturally plummets. Coupled with the recent surge in AAA game development costs and extended production cycles, this has led to increasingly frequent "game droughts."With money in hand, players find the market flooded with titles that "bark louder than they bite," naturally choosing to keep their wallets firmly shut.
💡 Correspondent's Perspective: The Darkest Hour Before Dawn, or a Structural Collapse?
Although the data looks alarming, I don't believe it signifies that the gaming industry is truly about to "collapse." It's more like the "darkest hour before dawn."First, this data primarily tracks physical retail sales. These days, who doesn't just hit Steam or PSN to start downloading? The share of digital sales has been rising year after year, and the decline of physical retail channels is an inevitable trend.Second, this reflects consumers becoming smarter and more discerning. Faced with high inflation, gamers no longer blindly spend on promotions; everyone is waiting for truly worthwhile games that are worth investing time in. This serves as a major wake-up call for developers: stop trying to fool players with reskinned games or half-baked products. If you can't deliver the real deal, the market will absolutely punish you.In summary, the bleak November of 2025 may be a necessary dip before the next wave of next-gen excitement. But for gaming executives counting on year-end financial reports to enjoy a prosperous holiday season, this winter is likely to be particularly harsh.Gamers, what do you think? Did you pick up any games this November? Or are you like me, waiting for the next dream machine to hit the market? Share your thoughts in the comments below!”
