In a surprising turn of events, Ghost of Yotei has ascended to the pinnacle of the UK physical software charts, displacing EA Sports FC 26 faster than anticipated.
Released on September 26, EA’s latest entry in their long-standing football franchise initially soared to the top of the UK physical charts in its debut week, an outcome that was expected.
However, few would have predicted that its reign would be so fleeting, as it lasted only a single week.
Christopher Dring, editor at The Game Business, shared insights on social media regarding this week’s chart, noting the rise of the PS5 exclusive Ghost of Yotei to the top position. He stated, “The UK boxed launch for Ghost of Yotei is exceptional. It is No. 1, outperforming the second week of EA Sports FC 26 (!) and selling nearly triple what Mario Galaxy 1 + 2 on Switch managed.”
When questioned by a follower about how Yotei’s physical UK sales stacked up against its predecessor, Ghost of Tsushima, Dring mentioned, “It’s down about 40%. But I still find it impressive.”
The UK boxed launch for Ghost of Yotei is really, really good. It is No.1, which means it beat the second week of EA Sports FC 26 (!) and sold almost 3x what Mario Galaxy 1 + 2 on Switch did.
I don’t report on physical charts much these days, but I thought this notable
— Christopher Dring (@Chris_Dring) October 5, 2025
Understanding the Sales Dynamics
While a 40% decline might appear significant, various factors contribute to this drop. Ghost of Tsushima launched in July 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to an increase in video game sales overall.
Additionally, Tsushima was released on the PS4, which was nearing the end of its lifecycle, just as the PS5 was about to debut four months later. Consequently, the player base for the PS4 significantly outnumbered that of the current PS5.
Another aspect to consider is the shifting landscape between physical and digital sales. The past five years have seen an increasing number of players opting for digital formats, which are not reflected in the UK physical charts.
Critical Reception of Ghost of Yotei
Ghost of Yotei has garnered a five-star review from industry insiders, praising it for “fulfilling the promise of Tsushima with a touching samurai epic.”
The review emphasized that “Ghost of Yotei achieves much of what Ghost of Tsushima set out to do, providing an incredibly enjoyable open-world experience that minimizes the previous installment’s bloat.” Despite minor pacing concerns and some less impressive villain portrayals, the new title improves upon its predecessor across the board, showcasing top-tier visuals and music.
