Resident evil requiem shatters sales records, but gaming spending stalls
February 2026 delivered a surge of new game releases, headlined by Resident Evil Requiem, which dominated U.S. sales charts. However, the anticipated sales boom didn't translate to a significant overall increase in gaming revenue.
New releases fail to ignite spending surge
Resident Evil Requiem debuted as the best-selling game of February and the entire year, achieving 6 million units globally, making it the fastest-selling title in the franchise’s history. Yet, according to a Circana report analyzed by Mat Piscatella, total gaming spending only rose 1% year-over-year. Content spending remained flat, and accessory sales saw a 2% decline.
The only bright spot was hardware, driven largely by the success of the Nintendo Switch 2. Hardware sales jumped 22% to $326 million, offsetting declines in other console categories. The PlayStation 5 still leads in both dollar and unit sales.
The February release slate was notably quieter than the one preceding it in February 2025, which featured major titles like Monster Hunter Wilds and Kingdom Come: Deliverance II. Despite the slower month overall, some titles saw impressive sales spikes. Diablo II: Remastered climbed from No. 195 to No. 13 after its Steam release, and Doom: The Dark Ages surged to No. 9 thanks to anniversary sale promotions.
Top 20 games: a mixed bag
The Resident Evil Generation Pack, including Resident Evil 7, Village, and Requiem, performed particularly well on the Switch, ranking No. 4, outperforming just Requiem alone (No. 6). This suggests a strong appetite for the franchise among Nintendo fans.
Here's a look at the top 20 best-selling games in the U.S. for February 2026:
- Resident Evil Requiem (NEW)
- NBA 2K26
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
- Minecraft
- Helldivers 2
- EA Sports FC 26
- Battlefield 6
- Madden NFL 26
- Dragon Quest VII: Reimagined (NEW)
- Grand Theft Auto V
- Mario Tennis Fever (NEW)
- Red Dead Redemption II
- Diablo II: Resurrected
- God of War: Sons of Sparta (NEW)
- Ghost of Yotei
- Forza Horizon 5
- My Hero Academia: All’s Justice (NEW)
- Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
- Pokemon Legends: Z-A
- Resident Evil Generation Pack (NEW)
Indicates that some or all digital sales are not included in Circana’s data. Some publishers, including Nintendo, do not share certain digital data for this report.
The quiet February raises questions about consumer spending habits; even a blockbuster release like Resident Evil Requiem couldn't spark widespread enthusiasm for gaming purchases. The Switch 2’s impact is undeniable, but the overall picture suggests a market navigating a period of cautious optimism.