September’s Top PlayStation Games by Copies Sold: Horror and Sports Reign

Key insights

6 slides

Market Leader

FC 26 sold over 5 million copies on PlayStation in September.

The title continues to outperform other licensed sports games globally.

Key Sales. FC 26 led September PlayStation sales with over 5 million units.

5 million+

FC 26 copies sold on PlayStation in September.

Total units across all platforms: 10 million
NBA 2K26 copies sold on PlayStation: 2 million

Free-to-Play Impact

The free-to-play title Skate achieved over 15 million total players.

This includes 7.5 million players on PlayStation. The title generated approximately $3 million in cosmetic revenue on Steam.

Like a free concert that sells merchandise, Skate attracts a large audience and monetizes through optional purchases.

Player Engagement. Skate attracted over 15 million players across consoles.

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Summary

September’s PlayStation sales performance highlights the continued dominance of major sports franchises alongside the enduring popularity of legacy titles and niche horror releases. The market remains heavily influenced by annual sports releases, with EA’s FC 26 leading the pack by selling over 5 million copies on PlayStation in September alone, contributing to a total of 10 million units across all platforms. NBA 2K26 also maintained strong momentum, recording nearly 2 million copies sold on PlayStation during the same period.

Beyond sports, the data reveals a diverse consumer appetite. Borderlands 4 moved approximately 800,000 units, while the indie sequel Silksong achieved over 600,000 sales in its debut month. Evergreen titles continue to command significant market share; GTA V sold over 500,000 units twelve years post-launch, and Minecraft maintained a similar volume, underscoring the long-term commercial viability of established intellectual properties. Additionally, the horror genre saw a notable entry with Silent Hill f, which debuted with nearly 300,000 units sold on PS5.

The analysis also examines the transition of the Skate franchise into a free-to-play, live-service model. With over 15 million total players—including 7.5 million on PlayStation—the title has demonstrated a successful initial launch. While the shift toward a persistent, always-online sandbox has sparked debate regarding monetization and aesthetic changes, the engagement metrics suggest a strong foundation for a long-term, community-driven platform. These findings are based on proprietary sales estimates and player crossover data, reflecting broader industry trends toward live-service ecosystems and the resilience of established sports and legacy gaming brands.