All articles tagged with #physical sales
Pokémon Legends: Z-A has achieved the biggest physical game launch in the US in over two years, since Tears of the Kingdom, despite not matching the series' previous sales peaks, and has had a modest launch in Europe and Japan.
CD Projekt's Cyberpunk 2077 for Switch 2 saw about 75% of buyers opting for the full physical cartridge in its launch month, highlighting the continued importance of physical releases for Nintendo audiences, despite strong digital sales and chart success.
Most of Cyberpunk 2077's Nintendo Switch 2 sales at launch were physical, accounting for 75.4%, highlighting that despite a shift towards digital gaming, there remains a significant market for physical copies. This is notable as Cyberpunk 2077 was one of the few Switch 2 games not sold via game-key cards, which have faced collector backlash.
Despite a 66% drop in physical sales compared to its predecessor, Death Stranding 2 still managed to outsell Mario Kart World in the UK, highlighting the ongoing decline of boxed game sales and the shift towards digital distribution, with overall physical sales down significantly and market dynamics changing over recent years.
Death Stranding 2's physical sales in the UK dropped 66% compared to its predecessor, reflecting a broader shift towards digital game sales, which now constitute a small fraction of the market; digital availability and changing consumer habits are likely factors, with more data needed for a full analysis.
Famitsu's annual report revealed that nearly $3 billion was spent on boxed games and hardware in Japan in 2023, marking a 7.8% increase from the previous year. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom was the best-selling game at retail, with the Nintendo Switch OLED being the top-selling console. Nintendo dominated the top ten best-selling boxed games, with Tears of the Kingdom leading the pack, followed by Super Mario Bros Wonder and Pikmin 4.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 debuted at No.1 on the UK boxed charts, outselling Super Mario Bros Wonder and pushing it to No.3. The game sold more physical copies on PS5 than on Xbox Series X|S, but overall boxed sales are down 25% compared to the previous installment. Football Manager 2024 also made its debut at No.5.
EA Sports FC 24 tops the UK charts but experiences a 30% decline in physical sales compared to FIFA 23. The Switch version is the only platform to see a slight improvement in sales. PS5 dominates the platform split for FC 24's launch, followed by Xbox Series X/S and PS4. Mortal Kombat 1 takes the second spot, while Pikmin 1+2 drops to number 36. Other popular titles like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom continue to perform well on the Switch.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has sold more physical copies than any other game released in 2023, including Resident Evil 4 and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. This is a significant accomplishment considering Nintendo only shares physical sales data, not digital. Tears of the Kingdom sold 10 million copies within three days and has become the second-best-selling game of the year so far.
The Lord of the Rings: Gollum has made a surprisingly strong debut at number six on the UK sales charts, despite being critically panned and having negligible physical sales. The PS5 version sold the best at retail, accounting for 70% of all physical sales over the launch weekend. The top three spots on the charts remain unchanged, with Tears of the Kingdom in first place, followed by FIFA 23 and Hogwarts Legacy. Most big third-party releases are selling the majority of their copies on PS5, physically at least.