The USA is the second-largest video game market in the world and the largest console market. Even in the days of staggered regional launches, November is a very common release month in North America (though not the only one). 

Every Xbox has launched in North America in November. The last 3 PlayStation consoles have been November launches in North America, and even the Pro consoles are November launches.

Nintendo has been doing their own thing, and Wii U was their last November launch.

November is a critical shopping month. It's followed by December, another critical shopping month. Holiday shopping seems like a sound time to launch a console because people who are buying other things (like heavily discounted items) will try to pick up the new console.

On the other hand, launching a console so late in the year means early shortages and scalping can be excruciating compared to something launched June or earlier. PS5 and Xbox Series X/S both faced shortages and scalping, but some of that was because of the global supply chain crisis. 

With Xbox 5 and PS6 less than 4 years out in almost all likelihood (and possibly less than 3 years) do we even need November launches anymore? You can consider the North American market, but also all the markets. 

My guess is probably not, but I'm not entirely sure. This is mostly for Americans who buy Christmas gifts for their kids, not so much the demographic norm of this forum.

On one hand, there is a shopping frenzy that happens on Black Friday, and there is also a lot of impulsivity surrounding that buying. So perhaps in the US it makes a lot of sense to drop new products in November to take advantage of that. Bundles and such go over very well.

In other countries, it makes less sense, because - scalpers or not - it makes more sense to get consoles into hands before the holiday season so the shopping season focus can be on the software.

But I don't think they'd do the November sales if they didn't see an advantage to it. So I'm voting unsure.

Gamer demographic is older now, that Christmas gift can wait. Launch new consoles after tax returns ;)

November is the biggest gift-shopping month in North America, which is why Microsoft and Sony launch in November and will almost certainly continue to do so. It's also close to the time when the annual Call of Duty traditionally launches (and they also do that because of the holiday shopping period), and Microsoft and Sony both want to take advantage of that momentum. 

Nintendo launches outside of the November window because it has gotten them better exposure launching a console in a traditionally moribund retail period, and because Nintendo has its own blockbuster franchises to sell its hardware. Plus, by the time November rolls around, Nintendo will hopefully have some momentum and plenty of games ready to go for Christmas. They've gotten along just fine without Call of Duty for years. Sony and Microsoft, not so much. 

In Nintendo's case, I imagine the bitter memories of jackrabbit fall launches followed by embarrassing software droughts inform their decisions to launch outside of the fall season.

Honestly, that's a good idea. Here are just some nations that have them in the first half of the year for tax deadlines.

• Albania: April 30 
• Argentina: April 15 
• Brazil: April 30 
• Canada: April 30 
• Chile: April 30 
• China: June 30 
• France: May–June (Varies by zone) 
• Japan: March 15 
• Mexico: April 30 
• Netherlands: May 1 
• Norway: April 30 
• Portugal: March 31 
• Singapore: April 15 
• South Korea: May 31 
• Spain: June 30 
• Sweden: May 2 
• Switzerland: Between March 31 and April 30 (Varies by municipality) 
• Taiwan: May 31 

However, it's not too likely we'll see the end of November launches, at least not for Sony. A PlayStation executive said PS6 is currently on track to launch at the expected time, which means November 2027 or November 2028 unless somehow things change.

And then you have Xbox who has always done November launches in North America, like I said. But I suppose there's always a chance Xbox 5 launches in the first half of 2027. Microsoft as a whole has a fiscal year that starts on July 1 and ends on June 30. 

Xbox 5 wouldn't be bad to launch at any point in 2026, but I think Microsoft is reluctant to do that because they don't want a repeat of the RROD. Had less Xbox 360s been produced around launch or the console was delayed to 2006 to work out manufacturing issues, RROD wouldn't have really been a thing. 

I was never a big fan of it, used to be that August or September was generally considered the big launch month, but it wasn't really until the GCN/XBox that it became November.

And which of the three is doing the best? ;)

Launch earlier in the year and get enough stock ready for the first holiday season. Being sold out day one might sound cool, but not good for business when scalpers are making all the money leaving consumers with less to spend on games! Scalpers aside, it's still the new toy of the year, hardcore fans will already have one spreading word of mouth, more people will be buying software for the new system(s) first holiday season.

At least bring the launch back to September again. November is too late.

idk but it sure makes a whole lot more sense to build up a catalogue of titles, alongside lots of good WoM, ready for the first holiday imo.

Simply I do not really care. As long as the games release etc.