Fresh industry data has revealed the best-selling PlayStation 5 games in the United States, delivering compelling evidence that exclusive titles remain crucial to console success despite claims from some industry figures that their importance is fading.
The Top Performers Revealed
As the PlayStation 5 celebrates its fifth anniversary this week, Circana boss Mat Piscatella shared the top 10 PS5 games ranked by dollar sales. The data shows a fascinating mix of third-party blockbusters and Sony's own exclusive titles performing exceptionally well.
Unsurprisingly, Call Of Duty: Black Ops 6 claimed the top position, with previous entries Modern Warfare 2 and Modern Warfare 3 securing third and fifth places respectively. The chart also features the usual strong showing from sports titles, with EA Sports College Football 25 making a massive impact in the US market to claim fourth position.
NBA 2K25 and NBA 2K24 completed the top ten, while Hogwarts Legacy represented the only other third-party title in the elite group. The magical adventure proved a huge hit upon its 2023 launch, with a sequel currently in development.
Sony's Exclusive Triumphs
The most telling aspect of the sales chart emerges in the three positions occupied by Sony's first-party exclusives. Marvel's Spider-Man 2 secured an impressive second place, while God of War Ragnarök and Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales claimed seventh and eighth positions respectively.
This strong performance directly challenges recent commentary from some industry figures, particularly Xbox executives, who have suggested that exclusives represent an outdated concept in modern gaming. The sales data clearly demonstrates that PlayStation exclusives continue to drive significant consumer interest and spending.
All three Sony exclusives featured in the top ten have since made their way to PC platforms, indicating the company's evolving strategy toward broader release windows while maintaining initial console exclusivity.
Questions About Sony's Strategy
Despite the proven success of these exclusive titles, industry observers have questioned why Sony hasn't pursued more first-party projects following this successful blueprint. The PlayStation 5 generation has been characterised by what many consider untapped potential, with resources diverted toward failed live service projects and rising development costs creating what's been described as a first-party drought.
This year saw only two Sony-published games - Ghost Of Yōtei and Death Stranding 2 - with only one originating from an internal studio. This represents a significant shift from previous strategies that included shorter development cycles for what some term 'half-sequels'.
Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales served as a cross-generation launch title for the PS5, naturally benefiting from strong sales, yet Sony hasn't released similar intermediate titles in subsequent years. Historical examples demonstrate the viability of this approach, with only two years separating 2018's Marvel's Spider-Man from Spider-Man: Miles Morales, and just one year between Uncharted 4: A Thief's End and Uncharted: The Lost Legacy.
Rumours have circulated about a potential God Of War project in similar vein, though nothing has materialised since 2022's God Of War Ragnarök. Insomniac Games is believed to be working on a Venom-focused sequel to Marvel's Spider-Man 2, though with Marvel's Wolverine scheduled for next year, any Spider-Man follow-up likely won't arrive until 2027 at the earliest.
The Budget Question
A crucial consideration in Sony's strategic calculations involves whether these impressive sales figures actually translate to profitability given skyrocketing development costs. Marvel's Spider-Man 2 reportedly cost over $300 million to produce - triple the budget of the original game - raising questions about sustainability even for titles achieving top chart positions.
While 2025 has proven relatively light on PlayStation exclusives, the outlook for 2026 appears more promising. Both Saros and Marvel's Wolverine are slated for release next year, potentially marking an improvement in Sony's first-party output.
The sales data ultimately provides clear direction about what resonates with PlayStation audiences. The challenge for Sony lies in developing a cost-effective approach to delivering the exclusive experiences that clearly drive both consumer engagement and significant revenue.
