--- title: "Gaming platforms: Which brands are most popular in search?" description: "Compare the platforms people buy and play games on. Share of Search among Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, Steam and GOG, the gaming platforms Brandwave compares worldwide, using the same methodology, market, and reporting period. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time." canonical: "https://gobrandwave.com/demand/global-en/categories/gaming-platforms" publisher: "Brandwave" --- # Gaming platforms: Which brands are most popular in search? Compare the platforms people buy and play games on. Share of Search among Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, Steam and GOG, the gaming platforms Brandwave compares worldwide, using the same methodology, market, and reporting period. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time. ## Key facts - **Competitive set**: Gaming platforms - **Market**: Global - **Brands compared**: 5 - **Month measured**: Aug 2026 - **Highest Share of Search**: Xbox, 45.8% ## Which brand is most popular in search among gaming platforms worldwide? - In August 2026, Xbox was the most searched among gaming platforms worldwide, with an estimated 7.5M branded searches and 45.8% estimated Share of Search within this set. - PlayStation is in 2nd place, 15.2 percentage points behind at 30.6% Share of Search. - Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Xbox’s estimated Share of Search among gaming platforms worldwide increased from 44.2% to 45.8%. - Across the 11 months ending August 2026, PlayStation’s estimated Share of Search among gaming platforms worldwide increased from 29.5% to 30.6%. - Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Nintendo Switch’s estimated Share of Search among gaming platforms worldwide decreased from 24.1% to 20.5%. - Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Steam’s estimated Share of Search among gaming platforms worldwide increased from 1.2% to 2.3%. - Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Xbox’s estimated Share of Search among gaming platforms worldwide peaked at 45.9% in January 2026 and was lowest at 37% in March 2026. - Across the 11 months ending August 2026, PlayStation’s estimated Share of Search among gaming platforms worldwide peaked at 35.6% in July 2026 and was lowest at 29.5% in October 2025. - Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Nintendo Switch’s estimated Share of Search among gaming platforms worldwide peaked at 30.2% in March 2026 and was lowest at 16% in July 2026. - Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Steam’s estimated Share of Search among gaming platforms worldwide peaked at 3.9% in July 2026 and was lowest at 1.2% in October 2025. - Across the 11 months ending August 2026, GOG held steady: its estimated Share of Search among gaming platforms worldwide moved less than 0.5 percentage points. ## Compare search popularity between leading brands - [Xbox vs PlayStation: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/playstation-vs-xbox): 45.8% against 30.6% Share of Search. - [Xbox vs Nintendo Switch: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/nintendo-switch-vs-xbox): 45.8% against 20.5% Share of Search. - [Xbox vs Steam: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/steam-vs-xbox): 45.8% against 2.3% Share of Search. - [PlayStation vs Nintendo Switch: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/nintendo-switch-vs-playstation): 30.6% against 20.5% Share of Search. - [PlayStation vs Steam: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/playstation-vs-steam): 30.6% against 2.3% Share of Search. - [Nintendo Switch vs Steam: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/nintendo-switch-vs-steam): 20.5% against 2.3% Share of Search. ## How did search popularity change for gaming platforms worldwide in August 2026? - In August 2026, Nintendo Switch gained estimated Share of Search among gaming platforms worldwide, from 16% to 20.5%. - In August 2026, Xbox gained estimated Share of Search among gaming platforms worldwide, from 43.5% to 45.8%. - In August 2026, PlayStation lost estimated Share of Search among gaming platforms worldwide, from 35.6% to 30.6%. - In August 2026, Steam lost estimated Share of Search among gaming platforms worldwide, from 3.9% to 2.3%. - Estimated monthly branded searches for GOG worldwide fell 18.2% over 11 measured months, from 165K to 135K in August 2026. ## Share of Search ranking | Rank | Brand | Share of Search | Estimated monthly branded searches | Change vs prior month | Owned by | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | Xbox | 45.8% | 7.5M | 0.0% | Microsoft | | 2 | PlayStation | 30.6% | 5M | -18.3% | Sony | | 3 | Nintendo Switch | 20.5% | 3.4M | +22.3% | Nintendo Switch | | 4 | Steam | 2.3% | 368K | -45.3% | Steam | | 5 | GOG | 0.83% | 135K | -18.2% | GOG | ## Historical estimated branded-search demand | Month | Brand | Estimated monthly branded searches | Share of Search | Rank | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Oct 2025 | Xbox | 7.5M | 44.2% | 1 | | Oct 2025 | PlayStation | 5M | 29.5% | 2 | | Oct 2025 | Nintendo Switch | 4.1M | 24.1% | 3 | | Oct 2025 | Steam | 201K | 1.2% | 4 | | Oct 2025 | GOG | 165K | 0.97% | 5 | | Nov 2025 | Xbox | 9.1M | 44.2% | 1 | | Nov 2025 | PlayStation | 6.1M | 29.6% | 2 | | Nov 2025 | Nintendo Switch | 5M | 24.2% | 3 | | Nov 2025 | Steam | 246K | 1.2% | 4 | | Nov 2025 | GOG | 165K | 0.8% | 5 | | Dec 2025 | Xbox | 9.1M | 41.2% | 1 | | Dec 2025 | PlayStation | 7.5M | 33.7% | 2 | | Dec 2025 | Nintendo Switch | 5M | 22.5% | 3 | | Dec 2025 | Steam | 368K | 1.7% | 4 | | Dec 2025 | GOG | 201K | 0.91% | 5 | | Jan 2026 | Xbox | 7.5M | 45.9% | 1 | | Jan 2026 | PlayStation | 5M | 30.7% | 2 | | Jan 2026 | Nintendo Switch | 3.4M | 20.6% | 3 | | Jan 2026 | Steam | 301K | 1.8% | 4 | | Jan 2026 | GOG | 165K | 1% | 5 | | Feb 2026 | Xbox | 6.1M | 42.9% | 1 | | Feb 2026 | PlayStation | 5M | 35% | 2 | | Feb 2026 | Nintendo Switch | 2.7M | 19.2% | 3 | | Feb 2026 | Steam | 246K | 1.7% | 4 | | Feb 2026 | GOG | 165K | 1.2% | 5 | | Mar 2026 | Xbox | 6.1M | 37% | 1 | | Mar 2026 | Nintendo Switch | 5M | 30.2% | 2 | | Mar 2026 | PlayStation | 5M | 30.2% | 3 | | Mar 2026 | Steam | 246K | 1.5% | 4 | | Mar 2026 | GOG | 165K | 1% | 5 | | Apr 2026 | Xbox | 6.1M | 41.3% | 1 | | Apr 2026 | PlayStation | 5M | 33.8% | 2 | | Apr 2026 | Nintendo Switch | 3.4M | 22.6% | 3 | | Apr 2026 | Steam | 201K | 1.4% | 4 | | Apr 2026 | GOG | 135K | 0.91% | 5 | | May 2026 | Xbox | 6.1M | 39.3% | 1 | | May 2026 | PlayStation | 5M | 32.1% | 2 | | May 2026 | Nintendo Switch | 4.1M | 26.2% | 3 | | May 2026 | Steam | 246K | 1.6% | 4 | | May 2026 | GOG | 135K | 0.87% | 5 | | Jun 2026 | Xbox | 7.5M | 45.3% | 1 | | Jun 2026 | PlayStation | 5M | 30.3% | 2 | | Jun 2026 | Nintendo Switch | 3.4M | 20.3% | 3 | | Jun 2026 | Steam | 550K | 3.3% | 4 | | Jun 2026 | GOG | 135K | 0.82% | 5 | | Jul 2026 | Xbox | 7.5M | 43.5% | 1 | | Jul 2026 | PlayStation | 6.1M | 35.6% | 2 | | Jul 2026 | Nintendo Switch | 2.7M | 16% | 3 | | Jul 2026 | Steam | 673K | 3.9% | 4 | | Jul 2026 | GOG | 165K | 0.96% | 5 | | Aug 2026 | Xbox | 7.5M | 45.8% | 1 | | Aug 2026 | PlayStation | 5M | 30.6% | 2 | | Aug 2026 | Nintendo Switch | 3.4M | 20.5% | 3 | | Aug 2026 | Steam | 368K | 2.3% | 4 | | Aug 2026 | GOG | 135K | 0.83% | 5 | | Sep 2026 | GOG | — | — | — | | Sep 2026 | Nintendo Switch | — | — | — | | Sep 2026 | PlayStation | — | — | — | | Sep 2026 | Steam | — | — | — | | Sep 2026 | Xbox | — | — | — | ## What is being compared - **GOG**: Measured on the search term “gog games”. - **Nintendo Switch**: Measured on the search term “switch 2”. - **PlayStation**: Measured on the search term “playstation”. - **Steam**: Measured on the search term “steam games”. - **Xbox**: Measured on the search term “xbox”. - [GOG](/demand/global-en/brands/gog) - [Nintendo Switch](/demand/global-en/brands/nintendo-switch) - [PlayStation](/demand/global-en/brands/playstation) - [Steam](/demand/global-en/brands/steam) - [Xbox](/demand/global-en/brands/xbox) ## Methodology - [How is branded search demand measured?](/demand/methodology): Where the figures come from, what they compare, and how they may be reused. ## Frequently asked questions ### Which brand is most popular in search among gaming platforms worldwide? In August 2026, Xbox was the most searched among gaming platforms worldwide, with an estimated 7.5M branded searches and 45.8% estimated Share of Search within this set. These are worldwide searches for English-language branded terms. ## Cite this page Brandwave. "Gaming platforms: Which brands are most popular in search?". https://gobrandwave.com/demand/global-en/categories/gaming-platforms This page is also available as HTML at https://gobrandwave.com/demand/global-en/categories/gaming-platforms. Brandwave publishes an index of its Markdown pages at https://gobrandwave.com/llms.txt.