According to market research firm Circana, Sony Interactive Entertainment and Insomniac Games’ PS5 action-adventure title *Marvel’s Wolverine* took the top spot in the U.S. video game sales rankings for September 2026.
September 2026 U.S. Video Game Market Highlights Thread from Circana - *Marvel’s Wolverine* Helped PlayStation Claw Big Gains in September U.S. Video Game Sales
— Mat Piscatella (@matpiscatella.bsky.social) October 22, 2026, 1:01 PM
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A Major Achievement Since *Helldivers 2*
According to Circana analyst Matt Piscatella, this title recorded the highest first-month sales (in dollar terms) for a Sony-published title since *Helldivers 2*, which was released in February 2024. Despite launching in mid-September, it managed to claim the top spot in monthly sales.
However, there is a key difference: while *Helldivers 2* launched simultaneously on PS5 and PC at a price of $40, *Wolverine* is a PS5 exclusive priced at $70. As a result, *Helldivers 2* may have outsold *Wolverine* in terms of units sold.
Globally, according to Ampere data, the game sold approximately 2.16 million copies in September, making it the second-best-selling PS5 title behind “EA Sports FC 27.”
PS5 Console Sales Also See Significant Increase
The PS5 performed strongly in September, with dollar-based sales up 43% year-over-year. Unit sales also increased by 22%, achieving the highest monthly hardware sales share since May 2025.According to Circana, the strong performance of *Wolverine* is believed to have contributed to the boost in PS5 console sales.
Meanwhile, the Xbox Series X|S struggled, down 27% year-over-year, and the Nintendo Switch 2 saw a 14% decline. The Xbox, in particular, recorded its lowest-ever unit sales for the month of September.
Top 10 U.S. Game Sales for September 2026
(Total of physical and digital sales)
Marvel’s Wolverine
NBA 2K27
EA Sports FC 27
Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave
The Blood of Dawnwalker
Wardogs
Onimusha: Way of the Sword
Halloween: The Game
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve
Madden NFL 27
September saw a flood of new releases, resulting in an unusual situation where eight of the top 10 titles were new releases. Additionally, while “NBA 2K27” dropped to second place, it surpassed “Resident Evil: Requiem” in cumulative annual sales to take the top spot for 2026.
For those wondering, *Madden NFL 27* sales are split across three separately tracked titles in the Circana sales rankings: *Madden NFL 27*, the EA Sports Kickoff Bundle, and the EA Sports MVP Bundle. We do not break down bundle spending, which is why *Madden NFL 27* does not appear in the year-to-date top 10.
— Mat Piscatella @matpiscatella.bsky.social October 22, 2026, 1:32 PM
According to a Circana analyst, sales for *Madden NFL 27* are broken down and tallied across three titles: *Madden NFL 27*, the *EA Sports Kickoff Bundle*, and the *EA Sports MVP Bundle*.They explained that because sales of the bundle editions are not broken down, *Madden NFL 27* does not appear in the year-to-date top 10.
*Marvel’s Wolverine* is currently available for PS5.
