Microsoft's [Xbox](https://stock-checker.com/products/gaming/xbox-series-x.html) had its worst year ever in the UK in 2025, while [Nintendo's Switch 2](https://stock-checker.com/products/gaming/nintendo-switch-2.html) surged past long-standing sales benchmarks in record time.
The contrast between the two platforms is stark. While Sony's [PlayStation 5](https://stock-checker.com/products/gaming/playstation-5-slim.html) has long been known to outsell Microsoft's latest hardware, the scale of Xbox's struggles has only become clearer recently. Microsoft does not publish detailed sales figures for its consoles, which has made it difficult to track performance with certainty.
One of the clearest indicators came from Take-Two Interactive's earnings report, which suggested combined sales of the Xbox Series X/S were around 28.5 million worldwide as of February last year. Industry insiders later claimed the consoles had still not crossed 30 million units by August. For context, the PlayStation 5 has now sold 84.2 million units globally. In comparison, the Nintendo Switch 2 moved 10.36 million units in just six months.
A natural slowdown is expected for any console more than five years into its lifecycle. But new UK data suggests Xbox's decline has been unusually severe. According to games journalist Christopher Dring, Xbox console sales in the UK fell by 39% in 2025 compared to the previous year. He described it as "comfortably the worst year on record for Xbox consoles" in the region.
This matters because Xbox was already starting from a weaker position. While the broader console market had a tough year, with UK PlayStation 5 sales down 12%, Xbox's sharper drop stands out.
There are several factors behind the slump. The Xbox Series X and Series S remain expensive five years after launch, and they missed out on meaningful discounts during key sales periods such as Black Friday. Microsoft's broader strategy has also shifted. Over the past few years, the company has increasingly brought its once-exclusive games to PlayStation 5 and focused its messaging around Xbox Game Pass rather than the console hardware itself.
Despite this retreat, Microsoft insists it is not abandoning consoles. The company has confirmed it is working on next-generation hardware, describing it as a "very premium" product that sounds closer to a high-end PC than a traditional console. Both Microsoft and Sony are widely rumoured to be targeting 2027 for their next systems. However, ongoing RAM shortages could extend the lifespan of the current generation.
Elsewhere in the UK market, Nintendo is enjoying a very different story. According to NielsenIQ data, the Switch 2 has already outsold the lifetime UK sales of the Nintendo Wii U, Sega Dreamcast, and PlayStation Vita within just six months.
Dring also noted on X that Switch 2 sales are "a reasonable chunk above" those of the original Switch at the same point in 2017. The first Switch sold roughly 700,000 units in the UK during its first year. While Nintendo has not shared exact figures for the Switch 2 in the region, current estimates suggest it may already be approaching 800,000 units.
Historically, the UK has never been one of Nintendo's strongest markets. That makes the Switch 2's early momentum all the more notable. Passing these milestones so quickly points to strong long-term potential. It highlights just how uneven the current console landscape has become.
The contrast between the two platforms is stark. While Sony's [PlayStation 5](https://stock-checker.com/products/gaming/playstation-5-slim.html) has long been known to outsell Microsoft's latest hardware, the scale of Xbox's struggles has only become clearer recently. Microsoft does not publish detailed sales figures for its consoles, which has made it difficult to track performance with certainty.
One of the clearest indicators came from Take-Two Interactive's earnings report, which suggested combined sales of the Xbox Series X/S were around 28.5 million worldwide as of February last year. Industry insiders later claimed the consoles had still not crossed 30 million units by August. For context, the PlayStation 5 has now sold 84.2 million units globally. In comparison, the Nintendo Switch 2 moved 10.36 million units in just six months.
A natural slowdown is expected for any console more than five years into its lifecycle. But new UK data suggests Xbox's decline has been unusually severe. According to games journalist Christopher Dring, Xbox console sales in the UK fell by 39% in 2025 compared to the previous year. He described it as "comfortably the worst year on record for Xbox consoles" in the region.
This matters because Xbox was already starting from a weaker position. While the broader console market had a tough year, with UK PlayStation 5 sales down 12%, Xbox's sharper drop stands out.
There are several factors behind the slump. The Xbox Series X and Series S remain expensive five years after launch, and they missed out on meaningful discounts during key sales periods such as Black Friday. Microsoft's broader strategy has also shifted. Over the past few years, the company has increasingly brought its once-exclusive games to PlayStation 5 and focused its messaging around Xbox Game Pass rather than the console hardware itself.
Despite this retreat, Microsoft insists it is not abandoning consoles. The company has confirmed it is working on next-generation hardware, describing it as a "very premium" product that sounds closer to a high-end PC than a traditional console. Both Microsoft and Sony are widely rumoured to be targeting 2027 for their next systems. However, ongoing RAM shortages could extend the lifespan of the current generation.
Elsewhere in the UK market, Nintendo is enjoying a very different story. According to NielsenIQ data, the Switch 2 has already outsold the lifetime UK sales of the Nintendo Wii U, Sega Dreamcast, and PlayStation Vita within just six months.
Dring also noted on X that Switch 2 sales are "a reasonable chunk above" those of the original Switch at the same point in 2017. The first Switch sold roughly 700,000 units in the UK during its first year. While Nintendo has not shared exact figures for the Switch 2 in the region, current estimates suggest it may already be approaching 800,000 units.
Historically, the UK has never been one of Nintendo's strongest markets. That makes the Switch 2's early momentum all the more notable. Passing these milestones so quickly points to strong long-term potential. It highlights just how uneven the current console landscape has become.