In a significant milestone for the franchise, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 has launched simultaneously on Xbox Game Pass and traditional platforms, yet early UK sales data reveals PlayStation’s continued dominance in physical sales, maintaining an 88% market share across PS5 and PS4 versions.
Platform Distribution and Sales Analysis
According to GamesIndustry.biz analyst Christopher Dring, overall physical launch sales show a 10% decrease compared to Modern Warfare 3, primarily attributed to reduced Xbox physical purchases. However, PlayStation platform sales have remained remarkably steady, suggesting minimal impact from the Game Pass availability.
“Ok, UK physical sales are in for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (GfK). Launch sales are 10% lower compared with Modern Warfare 3. This is almost entirely due to a drop in sales on Xbox, which was inevitable with Game Pass. PS5 sales remain steady year-on-year.
Market Impact and Platform Preferences
The sales pattern marks an interesting shift from Modern Warfare 3’s performance, where physical sales declined uniformly across platforms. In contrast, Black Ops 6 shows a targeted decline specifically in Xbox physical sales, while maintaining strong PlayStation numbers.
UK Physical Sales Charts: Week Ending October 26, 2024
| Rank | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Call of Duty Black Ops 6 |
| 2 | EA Sports FC 25 |
| 3 | Sonic X Shadow Generations |
| 4 | Super Mario Party Jamboree |
| 5 | Hogwarts Legacy |
| 6 | The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom |
| 7 | Mario Kart 8 Deluxe |
| 8 | Nintendo Switch Sports |
| 9 | Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate |
| 10 | Minecraft (Switch) |
Notable Market Movements
Beyond Call of Duty’s performance, the charts show strong debuts for new releases, with Sonic X Shadow Generations securing third place. The top 10 continues to demonstrate Nintendo’s steady presence, with multiple Switch titles maintaining their positions.
It’s important to note that these figures represent only physical sales in the UK market. A complete picture of Game Pass’s impact will require digital sales data and global market analysis, though early indicators suggest PlayStation’s Call of Duty player base remains loyal despite the new distribution model.
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