Despite facing significant criticism online for its gameplay mechanics and user interface elements, Insomniac's Marvel's Wolverine has emerged as Sony's top-selling game of 2026. Reports from Alinea Analytics indicate that the title has sold approximately 1.9 million copies, generating an estimated $130 million.
This sales figure places Wolverine ahead of all other PlayStation Studios games released on PS5 this year. Other notable titles include MLB The Show 26, which sold 1.5 million copies on PS5 for $99 million, and Marathon, which sold 1.8 million units across all platforms for $60 million.
The performance of Wolverine comes amidst a challenging year for Sony's first-party game sales. Several recent releases have underperformed, leading to internal discussions and, in some cases, significant studio changes. Marathon recently lost its director amid reports of underperformance, and Housemarque co-founder Ilari Kuittinen announced his departure following the poor sales of Saros. The fighting game Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls also saw seemingly low sales, sparking debate within the community.
Overall, Sony's first-party game sales have experienced a notable decline over the past five years, falling from 58.4 million units in fiscal year 2020 to 28.9 million in fiscal year 2024.
Factors Behind Wolverine's Sales Success
Analysts suggest that Wolverine's strong sales can be attributed to several factors. Rhys Elliot of Alinea Analytics points to the character's enduring global popularity, particularly in the United States, which accounted for 53% of the player base. The UK, France, and Canada followed with 7%, 5%, and 4% respectively. Furthermore, it is believed that a significant portion of the audience purchases games based on the appeal of the character alone, without being heavily influenced by critical reviews or social media discourse.
However, Elliot also anticipates that the game's critical reception and negative online sentiment will likely impact its long-term sales trajectory, potentially causing it to fall short of the success seen with Insomniac's previous Spider-Man titles.