'Ghost of Yōtei' Tops Charts in Key Markets for Sony

Sony's latest PlayStation exclusive has captured the top position in major video-game markets, underscoring continued demand for the console maker's exclusive titles even as the industry grapples with changing consumer purchasing habits.

"Ghost of Yōtei," the feudal Japan action title from Sony's Sucker Punch Productions studio, claimed the No. 1 spot in the U.K., Japan, Germany and France following its Oct. 2 release. The game sold more than 1.6 million units in its first week, according to industry analysts, marking one of Sony's strongest PlayStation 5 debuts in recent years.

Sony confirmed the title surpassed one million units sold globally but hasn't disclosed more detailed sales figures.

Ghost of Yōtei leads global rankings amid digital shift

In the U.K., "Ghost of Yōtei" led physical sales charts, outselling Electronic Arts' "EA Sports FC 26" during its second week on the market. British retailers reported the title moved nearly three times as many boxed units as Nintendo Co.'s "Super Mario Galaxy 1 + 2" reissue for the Switch console.

However, physical sales were roughly 40% below those of 2020's "Ghost of Tsushima" in the U.K., reflecting a broader migration to digital distribution. The decline in packaged software mirrors an industrywide trend that has accelerated during the current console generation.

In Japan, the title topped physical sales charts with approximately 120,000 copies in its debut week, according to tracking firm Famitsu, marking the strongest PlayStation 5 launch in that market to date. The game also secured the No. 1 position in Germany and France, according to retail tracking data and industry analysts.

Digital Shift Reshapes Market

The video-game industry has undergone a significant transformation in how consumers purchase software. Sony reported that 76% of its full-game software sales came through digital channels in fiscal 2024, up from roughly 50% five years earlier.

That shift means physical sales figures, once the primary barometer of a game's commercial performance, now represent only a fraction of total revenue. Publishers and console makers have largely stopped disclosing detailed sales breakdowns, making comprehensive market analysis more difficult.

Set in 17th-century Japan, "Ghost of Yōtei" follows Atsu, a female warrior, in a standalone follow-up to "Ghost of Tsushima." The original title was one of the PlayStation 4's biggest commercial successes.

Sony plans to release free multiplayer downloadable content called "Yōtei Legends" in 2026, according to company press materials. The base game remains exclusive to PlayStation 5, with no announced plans for other platforms.

The title's performance comes as major publishers face rising development costs and longer production timelines. Neither Sony nor Sucker Punch disclosed the game's development budget.