Physical media isn’t quite the relic some would have you believe. Retail tracking from Ampere Analysis, which monitors sales across major markets worldwide, shows that 35% of all Marvel’s Wolverine copies sold were boxed discs rather than digital downloads. That’s more than a third of the game’s audience still walking out of a store with a case in hand.
The game launched on September 15 and moved 2.16 million units during the month. A large chunk of that came from shelves, not storefronts.
Europe Still Loves a Box
The regional split is where things get interesting. Across Europe, 51% of Wolverine sales were physical – in other words, the boxed version actually beat digital. Narrow the lens further and the gap widens dramatically:
- France: more than two thirds of sales were physical
- UK: roughly two thirds of sales were digital
Two neighboring markets, two completely opposite buying habits. If you’ve been following Logan’s debut on PS5, we’ve covered the game extensively – from the senses toggles added in a post-launch patch to the game speed option that lets you slow combat down.
Why the Timing Matters
These numbers land right as Sony pushes ahead with its plan to phase out physical disc production for PlayStation by 2028. The announcement triggered a wave of online criticism, and several organizations campaigning for physical media preservation have publicly called on Sony to reverse course.
The Video Game History Foundation framed the issue around archiving: “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.”
Former PlayStation boss Shawn Layden also questioned the decision earlier this month. “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%,” he 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.”
Sony hasn’t shown any sign of backing down. In July the company acknowledged the “strong views” coming from the community but made clear it wouldn’t change direction. And the trend isn’t limited to Sony – the biggest game of the year has no disc release at all. GTA 6 isn’t getting a physical version, and even its special edition ships as a code inside an otherwise empty box.
Where Wolverine Landed in September
Insomniac’s take on Logan was the second best-selling game on PS5 last month. Only EA Sports FC 27 beat it, selling close to 5 million copies on PS5 and 1.65 million on Xbox – a gap that mostly reflects the difference in install base between the two consoles.
Once PC is factored in, two other games outsold Wolverine: How to Fish and Wardogs. The Bulkhead and Team 17 shooter closed in on 3 million sales, driven by word of mouth and viral clips of its combat sandbox, with only EA Sports FC 27 on PS5 ahead of it in September.
The Slower Starters
Not everyone had a strong month. Ampere’s figures show:
- Control: Resonant – 305,000 sales on PS5
- Silent Hill: Townfall – 291,000 sales on PS5
- The Blood of Dawnwalker – 1.8 million sales across all platforms
That last one is notable: it’s the debut RPG from Rebel Wolves, a studio built from former The Witcher developers, and it clearly found an audience out of the gate.
What It Means for You
If you’re one of the players who still buys discs, this data is the clearest evidence yet that you’re far from alone – especially if you’re in mainland Europe. It doesn’t change Sony’s roadmap, but it does mean a meaningful slice of PlayStation owners will need to rethink how they buy and store their libraries over the next couple of years. Resale, lending, and offline installs all go away with the disc drive.
Want more on Logan’s outing? We’ve also written about the self-repairing suit and its lore explanation, and you can browse everything in our Marvel’s Wolverine hub.
FAQ
Ampere Analysis data puts it at 2.16 million units for the month, following the game’s launch on September 15.
Sony has announced it will phase out physical disc production for PlayStation by 2028. Despite backlash, the company said in July it wouldn’t change its position.
It was the second best-seller on PS5, behind EA Sports FC 27. When PC is included, How to Fish and Wardogs also outsold it.
No. There are no plans for a physical version, and the special edition contains only a download code in an otherwise empty box.