PlayStation Leads US Console “Regular” Gaming Survey, With Big Caveats

A new US player survey has placed PlayStation hardware at the top of “regular” gaming on consoles, but the headline numbers come with major caveats about sampling, age coverage, and what “regularly” actually means.

Survey window, sample, and platforms

The results are based on responses from 3,200 people in the United States aged 18 to 64. The survey period ran from July 2025 through June 2026, and respondents were allowed to name multiple platforms—so percentages can total more than 100%.

PlayStation leads in usage; Xbox Series X|S trails Xbox One

When grouping results by manufacturer, the survey’s estimates put PlayStation at the highest level (85 percentage points), followed by Nintendo (76) and Xbox (58). On the individual console list, the PS5—including the Pro variant—is the most played “regularly” platform at 46%.

Nintendo’s Switch is next at 33%, while the PS4 family (including PS4 Pro) remains far from obsolete at 27%. On Xbox, Xbox One edges out the current generation: 23% for Xbox One versus 21% for Xbox Series X|S.

Why the numbers should be taken cautiously

The age bracket is one of the biggest limitations. By excluding players younger than 18, the results may undercount groups where Nintendo is often particularly strong. As a result, the finding that PlayStation leads Nintendo may apply mainly to adult players rather than the overall market.

The Switch-related figure also carries timing issues. The survey notes that the “Switch 2” has already reached 17% of players, but the wording suggests a snapshot while the dataset appears to reflect an average across the full July 2025 to June 2026 window. Since the Switch 2 has been available since June 2025, its share likely rose during the period; the current reach could be higher than 17%.

At the same time, older platforms may look comparatively strong because early in the window, users had not yet fully transitioned to newer hardware. The report highlights that older systems such as Xbox 360 (14%) and PS3 (12%) show relatively high “regular” presence, which may be a side effect of how the respondent mix landed during the study period.

Another ambiguity is operational: the survey does not define what “regularly” means. It could range from once a year to daily play, and respondents may interpret the term differently.

Finally, the source uses an online panel rather than a random probability sample, and the participant count is small enough that minor shifts in the composition of the group could meaningfully move results. For example, the survey’s estimates point to 72 million players in the relevant US age range; for the 3DS, 429 respondents reportedly translate to 9.6 million people. With numbers like that, small sampling changes can alter the outcome.

Switch momentum claim and the global sales comparison

Beyond usage, the survey work also makes a sales-oriented claim: the Switch is expected to become the world’s best-selling console, at least “soon.” That depends on whether it can keep up with the momentum required to surpass the long-standing record set by the PS2.

As cited in the dataset, the Switch reached 156.59 million units shipped by June 30, 2026, including 0.66 million units in the most recent business quarter referenced. The PS2 is described as having hit 160 million units shipped, based on Sony figures. If those comparisons hold, the Switch would need to continue selling above its last-quarter pace for more than a year to close the remaining gap.

What’s behind the console market slowdown

The survey’s report also points to broader market conditions. It says demand for consoles has recently cooled as many consumers cut back on non-essential purchases amid higher cost of living. During the COVID-19 period, the console market saw stronger growth.