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Physical Discs Account for 35% of Marvel's Wolverine Sales, Analyst Data Shows
RePhysical Discs Account for 35% of Marvel's Wolverine Sales, Analyst Data Shows
Ampere Analysis data indicates that 35% of Marvel's Wolverine sales were on physical discs, with regional variations showing 51% in Europe and over two-thirds in France, as Sony faces backlash over its plan to phase out disc production by 2028.
Physical disc sales accounted for 35% of Marvel's Wolverine sales, according to retail data from Ampere Analysis. The Insomniac Games title, which launched on September 15, sold 2.16 million units in September, making it the second best-selling game on PlayStation 5 that month.
The data reveals significant regional differences in buying habits. In Europe, 51% of Wolverine sales came from boxed versions. In France, more than two-thirds of sales were physical, while in the UK, two-thirds were digital. The figures highlight that a substantial portion of players still prefer owning games on disc, even as the industry moves toward digital distribution.
The sales data arrives amid controversy over Sony's announcement that it will phase out physical disc production for PlayStation by 2028. The decision has sparked an online backlash and calls for a U-turn from organizations campaigning for physical media preservation. The Video Game History Foundation has urged trade groups like the Entertainment Software Association to offer solutions for archiving digital-only content.
«If platform owners are deciding to eliminate physical media and older digital storefronts, then we'd also like to see trade groups like the Entertainment Software Association offer meaningful solutions for archives and museums to legally preserve digital-only content and make it accessible for research,» the foundation said.
Former PlayStation boss Shawn Layden also questioned Sony's decision, noting that while a majority of players may download games, the minority who buy physical copies are often the most dedicated fans. «I do think, particularly in the gaming realm, maybe 80% of the people download and 20% don't, whatever that breakdown might be, but that's a super important 20%,» Layden said. «I mean, that is largely the most faithful of the faithful, that is, many times, the people who buy two copies of every game, one never gets out of the shrink wrap, and you play the other one.»
Despite the criticism, Sony has shown no indication of reversing its plan. In July, the company acknowledged «strong views» from the gaming community but insisted it would not change course.
The shift away from physical media is not limited to Sony. The biggest game of the year, GTA 6, has no physical version planned at all. Even its special edition will contain only a download code in an otherwise empty box, signaling a broader industry trend toward digital-only releases.
In September's overall sales rankings, EA Sports FC 27 topped the PS5 chart with close to 5 million copies sold, also moving 1.65 million units on Xbox. How to Fish and Wardogs both outperformed Wolverine when PC sales were included. Wardogs approached 3 million sales, driven by strong word of mouth and viral social media clips of its combat sandbox. Only EA Sports FC 27 on PS5 outsold the Bulkhead and Team 17 shooter in September.
Other titles had slower starts. Ampere's data shows Control: Resonant sold 305,000 copies on PS5, while Silent Hill: Townfall moved 291,000. The Blood of Dawnwalker, the debut RPG from former The Witcher developers at Rebel Wolves, performed much better with 1.8 million sales across all platforms.
The Wolverine sales figures underscore a persistent demand for physical games, even as major platform holders push toward an all-digital future. For collectors, preservationists, and players in regions with slower internet or limited digital storefronts, discs remain a vital access point. How Sony balances its digital strategy with this vocal segment of its audience will be a key test in the coming years.
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