According to GamesIndustryBiz, FIFA 21’s physical sales are down by 42% in the UK, in comparison to last year’s FIFA 20. The figures, as daunting as they may appear, do not account for digital sales, which has grown substantially due to the Ultimate Team Mode.
The digital figures are due later in the week. As GamesIndustryBiz points out, a key reason for the drop in sales is likely down to the release of next-gen consoles, with many players waiting to purchase the upgraded version of the game. Despite the 42% drop, FIFA 21 took the top spot for the biggest launch of 2021 in the UK (thus far) with fellow EA title Star Wars: Squadrons taking the second place spot. Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time claimed third, with two Minecraft titles taking seventh and eighth. Marvel’s Avengers scraped in at ninth.
FIFA 21 has beaten former number one holders including The Last of Us Part II and Animal Crossing: New Horizons. PlayStation 4 sales of FIFA 21 were highest (62%) with Xbox One accounting for 36% and the Nintendo Switch with 2%.
Listed below is the Top Ten for the week ending October 10.
- FIFA 21
- Star Wars: Squadrons
- Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons
- Super Mario 3D All-Stars
- Mario Kart 8: Deluxe
- Minecraft (Switch)
- Minecraft (Dungeons)
- Marvel’s Avengers
- Ring Fit Adventure
It was recently announced that FIFA 21 would not include Elland Road, the home ground of recently promoted Leeds United, due to the late conclusion to the Premier League season as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite this, new stadiums to FIFA 21 include Providence Park (MLS’s Portland Timbers), the Benteler-Arena (SC Paderborn 07), Estadio Nuevo Los Cármenes (home of Granada CF), and lastly, Union Berlin’s Stadion An der Alten Försterei.
In a statement, EA said that the team was “committed to giving fans the chance to play in all 20 Premier League stadiums and will provide more news on post-launch updates in the future.”
FIFA 21 is available on the PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Series S.
