Gaming Subscriptions Reach ‘All-Time High’ But Xbox Series X|S Sales Suffer In May 2025 Analysis (US)
By Xbox’s most significant triumph in May was its role as a publisher
Initial sales projections for May 2025 are emerging today thanks to Circana (NPD), revealing a somewhat mixed outcome for Xbox during that month – specifically in the United States, which this data is derived from.
To start, it’s noted that expenditures on video game subscriptions hit an “all-time high” in May 2025, reaching $0.6B, marking three continuous months of growth. Xbox Game Pass will undoubtedly play a significant role in this, although Circana’s executive director Mat Piscatella cautions that “video game subscriptions” encompass various offerings.
Additionally, sales for the Xbox Series X|S were reportedly disappointing in May 2025, declining by 30% compared to May 2024. In comparison, Nintendo Switch sales decreased by 44%, while PS5 sales actually increased by 3%.
This is understandable given that Microsoft publicized a price increase for Xbox Series X|S consoles on May 1st, resulting in a noticeable drop in purchases relative to the same period last year.
On a different note, Elden Ring: Nightreign emerged as the top-selling title for Xbox in the US throughout May, followed by The Elder Scrolls Online and DOOM: The Dark Ages. They have listed a top 10 based on both physical and digital sales data, although this does not account for additional content or publishers reluctant to share digital figures.
Considering that, here’s the complete top 10:
- Elden Ring: Nightreign
- The Elder Scrolls Online
- DOOM: The Dark Ages
- Minecraft
- NBA 2K25
- The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
- PGA Tour 2K25
- Assassin’s Creed: Shadows
- F1 25
Looking at the top 10 across all platforms, Microsoft had four of the five best-selling titles in May, which included DOOM: The Dark Ages, Forza Horizon 5, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, and Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.
So, there you have it! A challenging month for console sales at Xbox, though nothing we weren’t anticipating. Meanwhile, it seems gaming subscriptions are performing exceptionally well in terms of revenue, but it would be wonderful to have more transparency on how that relates to specific services like Xbox Game Pass – particularly following the recent discussions regarding its sustainability.
As for Xbox in the role of a publisher, four out of the top five best-selling games pretty much say it all.
What are your thoughts on all of this? Share your opinions in the comments section below.