November 2025 marked a significant downturn in the gaming industry, with hardware sales reaching their lowest point in 30 years. According to Circana, only 1.6 million units of video game hardware were sold, a stark contrast to the 1.4 million sold back in 1995. This decline is particularly alarming given that November is typically a peak month for sales due to Black Friday and holiday shopping. The average price of a new gaming console hit an all-time high of $439, contributing to a 27% drop in hardware spending compared to last year.