Research: 49m unused gaming consoles in UK
January 9, 2026
With gamers powering up new consoles and video games at Christmas, the upgrade in new tech has resulted in approximately 49 million old consoles sitting unused in UK homes, according to research from Virgin Media O2. In total, the combined value of this unused tech has been calculated at £4.14 billion.
The build-up of unused tech follows a surge in gaming gifts over Christmas, with 50 per cent of Brits, or someone in their household, reportedly receiving a video game console, accessory or game.
This trend is reflected in O2 sales data, where in the run-up to the festive period, the operator recorded a 170 per cent increase in sales of Nintendo Switch consoles (Gen 1, OLED, Lite and Switch 2), and a 5 per cent increase in Xbox sales (Series S, Series X and controllers). As new devices entered homes, gamers said they spent more than three hours using their consoles each day over the festive period.
As old devices become unwanted, cash-strapped Brits could recoup an average of £145 this January by recycling unused consoles through O2 Recycle, while also helping reduce electronic waste by keeping valuable tech in circulation for reuse or responsible recycling.
Game over for millions of old consoles
As new consoles took pride of place in UK living rooms at Christmas, older devices were relegated to cupboards and drawers, with UK households now sitting on an average of 1.73 unused consoles.
Nearly half of Brits (49 per cent) admit they have an old video game console that’s gathering dust, while 54 per cent are keeping old consoles “just in case” they want to play them again, despite not having used them in years.
For those who received a new console as a gift, almost one in five (18 per cent) plan to pack their old one away, while 14 per cent will keep it plugged in but will rarely use it. One in ten (10 per cent) admit they’re likely to throw their old console away altogether.
PS5 tops the list of gaming consoles received
Among the new consoles received this year, the PlayStation 5 was the most popular, according to Virgin Media O2’s consumer research:
- PlayStation 5 (15 per cent)
- Gen 1 or OLED Nintendo Switch (12 per cent)
- Xbox Series X (7 per cent)
- Nintendo Switch 2 (6 per cent)
- Xbox Series S (6 per cent)
- Gaming accessories (18 per cent)
- New games (22 per cent)
Lost loot could earn gamers big rewards
Many gamers are unaware of the value of their unwanted gaming tech that’s locked away in their homes. Almost half of Brits (46 per cent) didn’t realise they could get paid for trading in an old gaming console, even though 57 per cent say they would be likely to do so if they knew they could earn up to £150.
Giving consoles a second life
With 60 per cent of Brits feeling guilty about unused tech sitting around the house instead of being recycled, O2 Recycle offers a simple way to give unwanted consoles a second life. The scheme is open to anyone, regardless of their mobile network, and devices are either repaired, refurbished and resold, or responsibly recycled – with zero parts going to landfill. Since its launch in 2009, O2 Recycle has recycled more than four million devices and paid out £356 million to consumers.
Dana Haidan, Chief Sustainability Officer at Virgin Media O2, commented: “With millions of new consoles taking pride of place in gamers’ homes this January, we know it can be overwhelming for Brits to know what to do with their unwanted gaming gadgets. That’s why O2 Recycle exists – to keep consoles and other tech in use for longer, whether that’s refurbishing and reselling them so they can be enjoyed by other gamers, or by ensuring they’re responsibly recycled when reuse isn’t possible. By trading in old consoles through O2 Recycle, people can unlock extra cash at a time when many are feeling the January squeeze, while helping to cut down on electronic waste and support a more circular approach to tech.”