Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and PS5 Top January US Charts, Switch 2 Still Carries Hardware Spending

Why It Matters

Nintendo’s Switch 2 proves a new console can dominate revenue even without unit‑sale leadership, reshaping console competition. The data also underscores the power of established franchises to drive sales in a thin release window.

Key Takeaways

• Black Ops 7 repeats as top-selling game
• PS5 leads hardware units, dollars in US
• Switch 2 drives $248M hardware spend, +16% YoY
• Declines hit PS5, Xbox, Switch1 hardware sales
• Final Fantasy VII remake jumps to top ten via multi‑platform

Pulse Analysis

The U.S. video‑game market posted a modest 3% growth in January 2026, driven largely by subscription services and hardware upgrades rather than a flood of new releases. With only Code Vein II debuting among the top‑20 premium titles, the market leaned on legacy franchises and console refresh cycles to sustain revenue. Analysts at Circana note that the limited software pipeline highlights the sector’s reliance on blockbuster franchises to maintain momentum during slower months.

Hardware dynamics revealed a striking shift: Nintendo’s Switch 2, despite ranking second in unit sales, captured the highest hardware spend at $248 million, up 16% from a year earlier. This surge compensated for steep year‑over‑year declines on the PlayStation 5 (‑17%), Xbox Series (‑27%) and the original Switch (‑79%). The pattern suggests that consumers are prioritizing higher‑priced, next‑gen experiences, and that Nintendo’s pricing and early‑adopter enthusiasm are translating into outsized revenue per unit. For Sony and Microsoft, the data signals a need to accelerate value‑add strategies, such as bundled services or aggressive pricing, to recapture spending share.

On the software side, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 reaffirmed its dominance, topping the premium game chart for the month. Code Vein II, the sole new entry, led PC sales across aggregated storefronts, indicating strong digital‑first adoption among PC gamers. Meanwhile, Final Fantasy VII Remake’s leap from 225th to ninth place after its Switch 2 and Xbox releases underscores the potency of multi‑platform launches for legacy titles. The resurgence of such franchises suggests that developers can revitalize catalog sales by expanding platform availability, a tactic likely to shape release strategies throughout 2026.