The Consoles of 2026

Nintendo Switch 2

Nintendo's new hybrid launched in most regions on June 5, 2025, and sold more than 3.5 million units in four days, the fastest start for any Nintendo console. By June 2026 it had passed 23 million. It plays in your hands at up to 1080p and 120 Hz or on a TV at up to 4K and 60 Hz, and its Joy-Con 2 controllers attach magnetically and can work like a mouse.

Mario Kart World, bundled at launch, is its best seller at more than 15 million copies. GameChat lets friends talk and share screens, and GameCube classics are exclusive to Switch 2 through Nintendo Switch Online.

PlayStation 5 and PS5 Pro

The PS5 launched on November 12, 2020, and reached about 95 million units by June 2026. Its custom solid-state drive slashes loading times, and the DualSense controller's haptic feedback and adaptive triggers remain a standout.

The PS5 Pro followed on November 7, 2024, with a faster graphics processor, better ray tracing and a new AI-driven upscaling technology. Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto VI page says the game plays best on PlayStation 5, and Rockstar has confirmed 30 frames per second on both consoles at launch.

Xbox Series X|S

Microsoft's pair launched on November 10, 2020, at 499 and 299 dollars. Both load fast from SSDs and play nearly every Xbox One game, along with many Xbox 360 and original Xbox titles. The Series X targets 4K at 60 frames per second, and the cheaper all-digital Series S targets 1440p.

Prices have risen since 2025 because of tariffs and memory shortages. In the US the Series X now lists at 649.99 dollars and the Series S at 399.99, and on August 1, 2026 Microsoft raised European prices again and dropped the 2 TB Series X.

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