UK Sales Chart – Week Ending 4th October

In a turn of events that has stunned followers of our weekly sales chart all across the world, a FIFA title has somehow managed to hit number one in the charts in its debut week. Fans of the little-known sport of ‘soccer’ bought the game in droves, ensuring this was the biggest ever launch for a FIFA game, outselling last year’s footy offering by 37.5%. Recession? What recession?

1. FIFA 09 (EA Canada)
2. Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (LucasArts)
3. Brothers In Arms: Hell’s Highway (Gearbox Software)
4. Wii Fit (Nintendo)
5. Mario Kart Wii (Nintendo)
6. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09 (EA Salt Lake)
7. Pure (Black Rock Studios)
8. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (Neversoft)
9. Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Games (Sega)
10. Mercenaries 2: World in Flames (Pandemic Studios)
11. Lego Indiana Jones: Original Adventures (Traveller’s Tales)
12. Samba De Amigo (Gearbox Software)
13. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (Infinity Ward)
14. Family Trainer (Namco)
15. Super Mario Galaxy (Nintendo)
16. Spore (Maxis)
17. Halo 3 (Bungie)
18. Grand Theft Auto IV (Rockstar North)
19. Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Sora Ltd.)
20. Battlefield: Bad Company (Digital Illusions)

Despite launching on every existing current format (Yes, even PC!), 42% of FIFA 09 sales were on Xbox 360 and 40% were on PS3. FIFA 09 is now the third fastest-selling game ever on 360 (behind GTAIV and Halo 3), and the second fastest-selling on PS3 (only behind GTAIV). The PS2 version managed 11% of sales, the PSP did 3%, while it the Wii, DS and PC combined could only manage a pitiful 4% of FIFA 09 sales.
EA has now managed to release eight No.1 selling-games this year, half of which were in the past six weeks.

Sales of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed are down 40% on last week, possibly because people have realised it’s better value as a rental than a purchase. Ubisoft’s Brothers in Arms: Hell’s Highway has managed to climb from 4th to 3rd due to lower sales of Wii Fit.

Although FIFA 09 is the only brand-new release in this week’s Top 20, several games experienced improved second week sales, with Gearbox Software’s other game, Samba De Amigo jumping up to No.12. Sadly, Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood didn’t quite make the Top 20, despite an increase in units sold, and the spiky-haired hog sits out in the cold, in the unacknowledged position of No.21.