Game subscription spending hits an all-time high in the US — does it bode well for Xbox Game Pass?

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In May 2025, spending on video game subscriptions in the United States hit a new record high ($0.6B), marking the third consecutive month of growth, as reported by Mat Piscatella, executive director and analyst at Circana. Interestingly, this rise occurs amid discussions about the sustainability of services like Xbox Game Pass.

Following a period where there was no growth, game subscription spending significantly increased in the U.S., particularly after the introduction of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 onto Xbox Game Pass in October 2024.

Examining software sales for May, Elden Ring Nightreign by Bandai Namco and FromSoftware was the top-selling game across all platforms (Xbox, PlayStation, and Steam) and also claimed the #11 spot for the year’s best-selling games overall.

In May 2025, DOOM: The Dark Ages by Bethesda Softworks and id Software was the second highest-grossing game, with sales boosted by its launch on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. Interestingly,

The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered, last month’s top-seller, maintained its popularity and ranked fourth for May. It is also the second most popular game of the year in the U.S., as of now.

Regarding hardware sales, there was a slight increase in PlayStation 5 sales compared to the previous year, but this growth was offset by declines in Nintendo Switch and Xbox Series X|S hardware sales. The PlayStation 5 emerged as the best-selling console for May, both in terms of dollar sales and units sold. The total video game spending for the month reached $4.1 billion, marking a 1% increase compared to last year.

Please note that Circana monitors game sales based on revenue rather than number of copies sold. Some publishers, such as Nintendo, do not disclose digital data, while developers like Larian choose not to share any data at all.

May 2025 Circana sales charts: Here are the top 20 best-selling games in the U.S.

1. I’m hooked on my Elden Ring adventure as Nightreign!
2. The dark and gritty DOOM: The Dark Ages is my current obsession.
3. Can’t wait to cruise around in Forza Horizon 5!
4. Reliving the epic tales of The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered is a dream come true.
5. Counting down the days for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6!
6. MLB The Show 25, where I live my baseball fantasy!
7. Minecraft, an endless world of creativity and adventure that never fails to amaze me.
8. Grand Theft Auto 5, where the city is mine to explore!
9. NBA 2K25, stepping onto the court like a pro!
10. EA Sports FC 25, where football dreams come true!
11. Assassin’s Creed Shadows, leaping through history to make my mark!
12. Star Wars: Battlefront 2 (2017), may the force be with me in battle!
13. Split Fiction, a thrilling story of intrigue that keeps me guessing.
14. Red Dead Redemption 2, living life on the edge of a wild frontier.
15. The thrill of F1 25, where every race is a heart-pounding challenge!
16. Helldivers 2, where I command armies in an interstellar war!
17. The Last of Us Part 2, a post-apocalyptic journey that leaves me breathless.
18. WWE SK25, stepping into the ring for some high-flying action!
19. Capcom Fighting Collection 2, where timeless battles are reborn!
20. PGA Tour 2K25, teeing off in pursuit of golfing glory!

May 2025 Circana sales charts: Here are the best-selling games of the year in the U.S.

1. Monster Hunter Wilds: Monster Hunter in the Wilderness
2. The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered: The Ancient Spells 4: Resurgence
3. Assassin’s Creed Shadows: Shadow of the Assassin
4. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6: Call of Duty 6: Black Operations
5. MLB The Show 25: Baseball League 25
6. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2: Kingdom Come: Redelivery
7. WWE 2K25: World Wrestling Entertainment 2K25
8. Split Fiction: Divided Stories
9. NBA 2K25: Basketball Association 2K25
10. Sid Meier’s Civilization VII: Sid Meier’s Civilization 7
11. Elden Ring Nightreign: Elden Ring: The Dark Reign
12. Forza Horizon 5: Forza Horizon across the World
13. Minecraft: Crafting World (Note: No digital sales data on Nintendo Switch)
14. PGA Tour 2K25: Professional Golfers’ Association Tour 2K25
15. Grand Theft Auto 5: Grand Theft Auto V
16. DOOM: The Dark Ages: DOOM: The Age of Darkness (Note: No digital sales data)
17. EA Sports FC 25: Electronic Arts’ Football Club 25
18. Red Dead Redemption 2: End of the Wild West 2
19. Madden NFL 25: American Football League 25
20. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2: Marvel’s Web-Slinger 2 (Note: No digital sales data)

Xbox sees software success and likely Game Pass growth

In this month, many top-selling video games are from the Xbox platform, which continues a trend seen in April. The various Xbox publishing labels have had an exceptional year, contributing significantly to these sales. Although Game Pass isn’t explicitly mentioned, it appears that the service has likely played a significant role in the increased spending on subscriptions for this month.

On the downside, Microsoft’s recent job cuts across Xbox and other departments, allegedly aimed at funding AI development, have made these decisions even more frustrating.

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2025-07-10 01:39