Survey: Exclusives Top US Console Choice at 41%

A new consumer survey reveals that exclusive games remain the top reason U.S. gamers select a specific video game console, with 41 percent citing them as the primary factor.

The finding comes from Circana's Q1 2026 survey of American players, as reported by industry analysts. That figure represents an eight percentage point decline from the previous year, when nearly half of respondents prioritized exclusives. Even so, it outpaces the second-most common reason, which 38 percent of those surveyed attributed to friends and family already owning the platform. The data underscores the enduring appeal of titles available only on one system, even as crossplay features and multiplatform releases have expanded.

This result arrives amid strategic shifts by major console makers. Microsoft has pursued a multiplatform approach for Xbox Series X and S titles, releasing games such as Forza Horizon 5 and the upcoming Indiana Jones and the Great Circle on PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2. Officials have described traditional exclusivity as outdated, linking it to weaker Xbox hardware sales, including a 32 percent drop in revenue during a recent quarter. However, under new Xbox CEO Asha...