February 2023 U.S. consumer spending on video game content, hardware and accessories totaled $4.6 billion, 6% higher when compared to a year ago. Video game hardware (+68%), accessories (+13%) and content (+1%) all grew compared to February 2022. Year-to-date consumer spending is now flat when compared to the same period in 2021, at $8.9 billion.

February 2023 marks the highest year-on-year percentage growth for the U.S. video game market since October 2021, when spending increased 13% compared to October 2020.

Spending on video game content increased 1% in February when compared to a year ago, to $3.9 billion. Growth in digital content across Console and PC platforms, as well as non-mobile subscription spending, offset a decline in mobile.

Hogwarts Legacy was the best-selling game of both February 2023 as well as 2023 year-to-date. Hogwarts Legacy also ranked 1st in February sales across each of the PlayStation, Xbox, and Steam platforms.

Seven of the top twenty best-selling games of February were new releases, with Wild Hearts (#8), Like a Dragon: Ishin! (#9) and Octopath Traveler II (#10) also ranking among the top 10 best-selling titles during February.

The Last of Us: Part I rose 5 spots on the February chart, placing 6th after ranking 11th in January. The Last of Us: Part II returned to the top twenty in February, finishing 18th overall following a #41 placement in January.

In Mobile content, Sensor Tower reports the top 10 games by U.S. consumer spending as: Candy Crush Saga, Roblox, Royal Match, Pokémon Go, Coin Master, Township, Bingo Blitz, Homescapes, Jackpot Party, and Evony.

While midcore mobile games continued to struggle more than casual games in the U.S., the top mobile shooters have been stable since the beginning of the year after enduring a difficult 2022. The Sports and Casino genres were more stable than both Casual and Midcore, with spending in Casino games up year-on-year.*

Pokémon Go had a strong February, moving back into the top five after growing in-game spend 23% compared to January, and 10% year-on-year.*

Video game hardware spending increased 68% when compared to February 2021, to $495 million. This is the highest video game hardware spend for a February month since the $534 million total reached in 2009.

Growth in PlayStation 5 hardware spending drove the February hardware market gains. PlayStation 5 was the best-selling hardware platform in units and dollars over both the February 2023 and 2023 year-to-date time periods. Year-to-date hardware spending is now 29% higher when compared to the same period in 2022.

Accessories spending grew 13% in February when compared to a year ago, to $212 million. Growth in Virtual Reality headset sales offset a drop in gamepad spending.