Ubisoft timed Far Cry 5’s launch perfectly, it seems. It’s the UK’s new number one this week, dislodging Sea of Thieves from the top spot while becoming the fastest-selling entry in the series.
It’s also the most successful new release to launch during ‘week 13’, trouncing previous record holder Bioshock Infinite, which launched a few days ahead of 2013’s Easter weekend.
The PS4 version of Far Cry 5 accounted for 60% of sales, leading it to become Ubisoft’s 6th fastest selling individual format title.
Finally, it had the biggest UK launch of 2018 to date.
The reason for the game’s success goes beyond the huge marketing push and positive reviews. It’s the first major ‘AAA title’ since January’s Monster Hunter World, and the first entry in the series since 2016 spin-off Far Cry Primal.
AC Origins’ runaway success may have had a positive effect here too, renewing faith that Ubisoft can still deliver a polished and content-heavy experience on day one.
Price drops and retailer promotions have given the rest of the top ten a good shuffle.
FIFA 18 is back at #2, with sales up 61%. Sea of Thieves drops anchor at #3, with sales down 52% from launch week, while Mario Kart 8 Deluxe rises to #4.
At #5 it’s PUBG, enjoying a 98% increase in sales.
Call of Duty: WWII rose from #13 to #6 (sales up 100%). A Way Out saw a 61% drop, meanwhile, falling to #7. AC Origins re-appears at #8, following a 61% increase.
Forza Motorsport 7 re-enters the top ten at #9. Then at #10 it’s GTA V.
Presumably due to word-of-mouth spreading, and an on-going advertising campaign, the 3DS’s Detective Pikachu performed better during its second week on sale, going from #23 to #15.
Sources: Gamesindustry.biz, UKIE