Marvel's Wolverine Tops US Sales in September

Image: Insomniac Games / Sony

Marvel's Wolverine was the best-selling game in the United States in September 2026, according to new data from market research firm Circana. The PlayStation 5 exclusive beat NBA 2K27 and EA Sports FC 27, despite launching partway through the month.

Key Takeaways

• Marvel's Wolverine was the best-selling game in the US in September 2026, based on Circana full-game dollar sales.
• Marvel's Wolverine posted the highest launch-month dollar sales for a Sony-published game since Helldivers 2 in February 2024.
• Marvel's Wolverine debuted as the 11th best-selling game of 2026 in the US after a single month on sale.
• PlayStation 5 hardware dollar sales rose 43 percent year over year in September 2026, Circana reports.
• Wolverine outsold multiplatform NBA 2K27 and EA Sports FC 27 despite launching mid-month on PS5 alone.

How did Marvel's Wolverine top US sales in September?

Marvel's Wolverine topped Circana's September US chart on physical and full-game digital dollar sales, Circana analyst Mat Piscatella confirmed. Eight of September's ten best-selling games were new releases, so Wolverine beat a crowded field that included NBA 2K27 in second, EA Sports FC 27 in third, Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave in fourth, and The Blood of Dawnwalker, Wardogs, Onimusha: Way of the Sword, Halloween: The Game and Ace Combat 8 behind them.

The result is stronger because Wolverine launched halfway through September, giving it less selling time than games available all month. It is also a single-platform game, with no PC version planned, according to Circana coverage.

How big is Marvel's Wolverine for PlayStation?

Marvel's Wolverine delivered the highest launch-month full-game dollar sales for a Sony-published title since Helldivers 2 launched in February 2024. That puts Insomniac Games' latest release ahead of every other Sony launch in more than two and a half years on that measure.

Hardware helped too. PS5 hardware dollar sales increased 43 percent in September compared with a year earlier, giving Sony its highest hardware dollar share in a month since May 2025, according to GameSpot's report on the Circana data. Total US video game spending fell 1 percent year over year in September to $4.8 billion, with year-to-date spending 3 percent behind 2025 at $41.0 billion, Piscatella reported.

Did Marvel's Wolverine sell well despite the backlash?

Yes, on the sales chart at least. Marvel's Wolverine faced mixed reviews and heavy social media criticism after launch, including mockery of its Scent Trails mechanic and debate over Logan and Sabretooth's relationship, which Insomniac later clarified. Insomniac also reduced the opacity of the scent trails in an update.

Estimates put Wolverine at around 1.9 to 2.16 million copies sold in September, depending on the tracker, with physical sales accounting for about 799,000 units in one estimate. Early PlayStation Store ratings were also more positive than the social media debate suggested, with a 4.83 out of 5 player rating at launch and more than 92 percent of reviewers awarding five stars, according to KeenGamer's report.

Image: Insomniac Games / Sony

Why did a PS5 exclusive beat multiplatform giants?

Part of the answer is the Marvel name and Insomniac's track record, but the chart itself tells a simpler story. NBA 2K27 and EA Sports FC 27 sell on PlayStation, Xbox and PC, while Wolverine sells on one console only, and it still finished first. That is unusual for a chart ranked on dollar sales, where multiplatform games normally have a built-in advantage from selling on more systems.

September's field also worked against it. Eight of the month's ten best-selling games were new releases, so Wolverine did not top a quiet chart. It beat a crowded month, in half the selling time, on one platform. That combination is why the result stands out even before the launch-month record comes into it.

The social media debate makes the result stranger, not smaller. Wolverine faced heavy criticism online after launch, yet its PlayStation Store rating sat at 4.83 out of 5 with more than 92 percent of reviewers giving five stars. The gap between the online argument and the sales chart is the point GameSpot's coverage made: what trends is not always what sells.

What does Wolverine's September mean for the rest of 2026?

Debuting as the 11th best-selling game of 2026 after a single month, and a partial one at that, puts Wolverine in a strong spot heading into the holiday quarter. September is usually a warm-up month for the year-end sales race, so a half-month at the top of the chart is a better sign than a full month in a quiet period would be.

The hardware number points the same way. PS5 dollar sales rising 43 percent year over year in a month when total US game spending actually fell 1 percent suggests Wolverine did more than sell to existing owners. How far it climbs from 11th will depend on the holiday quarter, but September gave it a better starting position than most single-platform launches get.

Related coverage: Blood of Dawnwalker update 1.1, PS5 Pulse headset launches with GTA 6, and Games leaving PS Plus in November 2026.

Sources: GameSpot, Polygon and Kotaku, all reporting Circana data from Mat Piscatella.

Image: Insomniac Games / Sony

FAQ

Was Marvel's Wolverine the best-selling game in September?

Yes, in the US, on Circana full-game dollar sales for September 2026.

What games did Marvel's Wolverine beat in September?

NBA 2K27 in second, EA Sports FC 27 in third, plus Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave, The Blood of Dawnwalker and others.

Is Marvel's Wolverine on Xbox or PC?

No. Marvel's Wolverine is a PlayStation 5 exclusive, with no PC version planned.

How many copies did Marvel's Wolverine sell?

Estimates range from about 1.9 million to 2.16 million copies in September, depending on the tracker. Sony has not given an official total.

Could Marvel's Wolverine finish 2026 higher than 11th?

Possibly. It reached 11th after one partial month, and the holiday quarter is the biggest selling period of the year, so there is room to climb.

Why is Wolverine's launch-month record significant?

It posted the highest launch-month dollar sales for a Sony-published game since Helldivers 2 in February 2024, ahead of every other Sony launch in more than two and a half years.

Did the Scent Trails criticism hurt sales?

Not on the chart. Wolverine still finished first in September, Insomniac later reduced the scent trails' opacity in an update, and early player ratings stayed strongly positive.

Screenshots: Insomniac Games / Sony Interactive Entertainment