Why did Microsoft leave Circana's digital panel?

Microsoft has not explained its decision, but the obvious reading is that of a publisher shutting off the tap when the numbers are bad. However, there is no formal proof of this.

What is Circana's digital panel?

It's a voluntary arrangement in which publishers share their actual digital sales. For those who don't participate, Circana projects the figures based on physical sales and its models.

How does this affect the US charts?

The charts now rely on estimates for Microsoft's sales instead of real figures, which can introduce inaccuracy into the monthly rankings.

Is Microsoft the only one to have left the panel?

No, Electronic Arts also left the digital panel when it went private. The number of participants dropped from fifteen to twelve publishers.

Microsoft stops sharing its digital sales with Circana

Microsoft no longer reports its digital game sales to Circana. The US charts for the software, where Call of Duty settles in every month, now rely on estimates.

Mat Piscatella, head of the games division at the firm, wrote it on August 20, 2026 on Bluesky, to a reader questioning him under the thread about July's results: "Microsoft is no longer a digital panel participating publisher." The withdrawal takes effect from the July tracking month onward.

Mind the scope. This isn't about consoles, which Circana reported in July as down 18% in units year-over-year for Xbox Series, but about games bought in digital storefronts.

The digital panel is a voluntary agreement: publishers who accept it report their actual digital sales, while for the others Circana projects figures from physical sales and its own models. Nintendo has never participated, its standings have always been estimated.

Circana table of publishers sharing their digital sales in March 2026, with a Microsoft (Corp) line marked Included across all storefronts — The last public table of digital panel participants, from March 2026: Microsoft still appears on it. Credit: Circana

Microsoft isn't the only one leaving. Asked by Kotaku, Circana stated that Electronic Arts had also left the panel, around the time of its move to private ownership. Twelve publishers remain on the list shared with the outlet, down from fifteen in March. Ubisoft had already left without returning, Take-Two left and came back: the trend itself isn't new, but its concentration is.

Microsoft hasn't explained its decision or responded to press inquiries. The obvious reading remains that of a publisher shutting off the tap when the numbers are bad, but no one has proven it. The cost, however, can be measured: Xbox accounts for barely 4% of new physical games sold in the United States this year.