# Video game hardware sales plunge to 13-year low as prices soar on memory, storage shortage

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-10-10 14:40 UTC · Category: Technology

## Executive Summary
US video game console hardware sales drop to a 13-year low amid soaring prices driven by memory and storage shortages.

## Intelligence Brief
According to the reported data, the United States console hardware market currently sits in its most precarious position since the 1980s. This assessment comes directly from Circana, highlighting a severe market contraction that impacts manufacturers, retailers, and consumers alike across the industry. The reporting emphasizes the alarming trajectory of the market, framing the current conditions as a historic vulnerability for the sector.


Video Games Chronicle brings these findings to light, focusing on the analysis provided by Circana regarding the unprecedented financial and operational pressures facing the hardware business. Specific details regarding which manufacturers are suffering the most or the exact magnitude of the price surges remain absent from the available text, as coverage does not yet specify those granular breakdowns. Observers and industry participants will need to monitor future reports from Circana and Video Games Chronicle to track whether supply chain pressures ease or if prices will continue to climb.


Coverage does not yet specify any projected timelines for the resolution of memory and storage shortages, nor does it detail manufacturer strategies for mitigating the crisis. Consequently, the immediate trajectory of the console market remains bound to the broader availability and cost of essential technological components.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| Video Games Chronicle | US console hardware market at its most precarious position ‘since the 80s’, says Circana | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMixgFBVV95cUxNWFNURlZUTkp5aTczRHhoUHM3MFhXc3NLZEgtODZTRWNoWWYzeXU3SFMtNUc0T2VBYWZBWXdEa3NIMThhSm1xQlRZc3BSUGotRUF5ckFjbVBlUk5KNXh5WEdvdUNzSERtOVljQ3o5RUczVHlyTzVWZkttTXRrZ1Y4YTdPNFZOS3BoMGFBYU9mT2RFcGI5bXNfektEdWdXSkJkM01fbjJnVHk0TW1wM0hpQjZkSm5IemZVYWJjQnAtRzlkVVRJcmc?oc=5) |

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*Canonical Source: https://pulse.byoviral.com/trend/2026-10-10/video-game-hardware-sales-plunge-to-13-year-low-as-prices-soar-on-memory*