Brits hoard £4.14bn in unused games consoles at home

Virgin Media O2 research estimates there are around 49 million unused gaming consoles in UK homes, with a combined value of £4.14 billion. The company linked the stockpile to households upgrading hardware over the Christmas period, leaving older consoles tucked away in cupboards and drawers.

Many consumers are also feeling the financial pinch heading into January, with 71% reporting they are strapped for cash. Through O2 Recycle, households could make an average of £145 by trading in old consoles.

Unused devices

UK households hold an average of 1.73 unused consoles, and 49% of people have at least one console that is not being used. More than half (54%) keep old consoles "just in case" they want to play them again, even if they have not been used for years.

Among those who received a new console over the festive period, 18% plan to pack their old console away, while 14% will keep it plugged in but rarely use it. Only 10% expect to throw their old consoles away.

Sales uplift

Virgin Media O2 reported a surge in console sales leading up to Christmas. Nintendo Switch sales rose 170% across models, including Gen 1, OLED, Lite, and Switch 2, while Xbox sales increased 5% across Series S, Series X, and controllers. Gamers spent more than three hours daily using consoles over the festive period.

Popular gifts

Half of respondents, or someone in their household, received a video game console, accessory, or game over Christmas. The PlayStation 5 was the most commonly received console at 15%, followed by Gen 1 or OLED Nintendo Switch models at 12%, Xbox Series X at 7%, Nintendo Switch 2 at 6%, and Xbox Series S at 6%. Accessories were received by 18% of respondents, and new games were received by 22%.

Trade-in awareness

Many consumers are unaware of the value of their unwanted devices. Forty-six percent did not realise they could get paid for trading in an old console, while 57% said they would likely do so if they could earn up to £150. O2 Recycle offers indicative trade-in values of up to £160 for a PlayStation 5, £92 for a Nintendo Switch (OLED), and £110 for an Xbox Series X.

Reuse and recycling

The programme also helps reduce electronic waste. Sixty percent of respondents reported feeling guilty about unused tech accumulating at home. Devices collected through O2 Recycle are either repaired and refurbished for resale or responsibly recycled, with zero parts going to landfill. Since launching 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, described the post-Christmas challenge for households with new hardware:

"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."