Exclusives Are Still The Top Reason People Play Games On Consoles, But They’re Becoming Less Important

Circana’s Q1 2026 survey says console exclusives remain the top reason people choose consoles, cited by 41% of gamers.

That share is down from last year, suggesting exclusives still matter but may be losing some pull.

Friends and family playing on the same platform is another major driver of console use.

The findings help explain why Sony and Microsoft may be getting more cautious about broad PC and rival-platform releases after some recent ports underperformed.