New Physical Game Spending Falls to $1.5 Billion as Vintage Titles Reach Million-Dollar Auctions

A Shrinking Supply of New Physical Games May Be Making Old Ones Scarcer and More Valuable

Physical game spending fell to $1.5 billion in calendar year 2025, even as exceptional vintage sealed copies have reached seven-figure auction prices, according to Circana and Heritage Auctions. MORTON GROVE, Ill., Sept. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The market for physical video games is no longer moving in a single direction. The Old School Game Vault has released an analysis of public sales and auction data showing a widening distinction between the…

New Physical Game Spending Falls to $1.5 Billion as Vintage Titles Reach Million-Dollar Auctions

Spending on new physical video games dropped to $1.5 billion in 2025, even as rare, sealed vintage titles continue to command prices in the millions at auction. Data from market research firm Circana and auction house Heritage Auctions indicates a shifting landscape where the declining production of modern physical media coincides with a surge in the valuation of collectible gaming history. The decline in retail spending reflects a broader indus…