Skate Leads September's Top Games by Downloads

Key insights

7 takeaways

01
Electronic Arts is going private in a $55 billion leveraged buyout, the largest in industry history, backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners, with the deal expected to close in 2027.
02
The free-to-play reboot of EA's Skate launched in early access with 14 million downloads in September, with 75.4% of players on consoles and 24.7% on Steam.
03
EA FC 26 secured the second spot in September with 9 million downloads, with PlayStation accounting for 67.5% of that volume and Steam capturing only 5.7%.
04
The Hollow Knight sequel, Silksong, recorded over 6 million downloads in its first three weeks of release, with Xbox downloads tripling those of PlayStation due to its inclusion in Game Pass.
05
NBA 2K26 reached 3.5 million downloads in September, with half of its player base generated during a one-week early access period gated behind a $100 premium edition.
06
Borderlands 4 debuted with 3.1 million downloads, showing strong initial uptake on Steam and positioning the title for long-term sales growth.
07
The $20 billion in junk-rated debt associated with the EA buyout creates significant risk for the company, likely necessitating future cost-cutting measures, potential studio divestitures, and layoffs.

Summary

September 2025 saw significant activity in the gaming industry, characterized by the dominance of major AAA titles and the announcement of a transformative $55 billion leveraged buyout of Electronic Arts. The market data highlights a strong performance for console-focused releases, with the free-to-play reboot of Skate leading the month with 14 million downloads across PlayStation, Xbox, and Steam. EA FC 26 followed with 9 million downloads, demonstrating the continued strength of the sports genre, particularly on consoles where it significantly outperformed PC engagement.

The analysis identifies a clear trend toward high-profile, live-service, and legacy-driven titles. Beyond the top two, Silksong secured over 6 million downloads, bolstered by its inclusion on Xbox Game Pass, while NBA 2K26 and Borderlands 4 also saw strong initial uptake. Other notable performers included Delta Force, Dying Light: The Beast, and the co-op title PEAK, which has reached 12 million copies sold since its June launch. The data suggests that while sports games struggle to gain traction on PC, they remain highly lucrative on console platforms, often driven by early-access strategies and Ultimate Team models.

The industry is currently grappling with the implications of Electronic Arts going private in a deal backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and Silver Lake. This $55 billion transaction, involving $20 billion in junk-rated debt, is expected to trigger significant operational shifts, including potential cost-cutting measures and layoffs. Analysts view the move as a strategic effort by the Saudi state to expand its cultural influence through gaming infrastructure. The long-term impact on creative autonomy, studio preservation, and the future of diverse franchises remains a subject of intense industry speculation.