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Marvel's Wolverine was the best-selling game in the US in September 2026 by Circana's count, with Sony's biggest launch-month dollar sales since Helldivers 2, and it opened at No. 1 on the UK boxed chart. Sony's first official figure, in its earnings report of Nov 5, 2026, is 2.4 million copies sold worldwide by Nov 4, 2026, in line with the analysts' estimates of about 2.2 to 2.5 million.
Marvel's Wolverine sold well by every measured count: Circana ranked it the best-selling game in the US for September 2026, with the highest launch-month dollar sales for a Sony-published game since Helldivers 2 in February 2024, and it opened at No. 1 on the UK boxed chart. That was not the expectation the week of the reviews: on IGN's Beyond podcast, the hosts thought people would enjoy it but doubted it was "quite the scale of game" Sony needed. Sony gave its first official number in its fiscal second-quarter earnings report on Nov 5, 2026: 2.4 million copies sold worldwide by Nov 4, seven weeks after launch. The earlier figures were analysts' estimates, labeled as such below. Review scores are on Reviews.
Quick facts
| US, September 2026 (Circana) | No. 1 by dollar sales |
| US comparison (Circana) | Best launch month for a Sony-published game since Helldivers 2 (Feb 2024) |
| UK boxed chart, week ending Sep 19, 2026 | No. 1 |
| UK boxed launch | Third-biggest PS5 launch of 2026 |
| Official copies sold | 2.4 million worldwide by Nov 4, 2026 (Sony, earnings report of Nov 5, 2026) |
| Alinea Analytics estimate | About 1.9 million in three days; about 2.5 million by mid-October 2026 |
| Ampere Analysis estimate | About 2.16 million in September 2026 |
| Physical share (estimates) | 22.9% of revenue (Alinea); 35% of launch sales (Ampere) |
| PS5 hardware, US, September 2026 | Dollar sales up 43%, units up 22% year on year (Circana) |
Was Marvel's Wolverine a sales success?
In its first month, yes. Circana's Mat Piscatella reported on Oct 22, 2026 that it led US sales for September 2026 (Circana's tracking month of Aug 30 to Oct 3), ahead of NBA 2K27, EA Sports FC 27 and Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave. It did that as a single-platform game against three multiplatform ones, which is the detail we find most telling: Circana counts dollars across every platform, so a PS5-only game at the top means a large share of PS5 owners bought it.
Whether it is a success for Sony depends on what it cost, which Sony has not said. On IGN's Beyond, the hosts pointed out that it "took five years to make" and wished for a time when games "used to be cheaper to make" and "faster to make". The budget figures that circulated in 2023 came from the ransomware leak and are not stated here as fact (see Insomniac Games).
The UK chart
The game opened at No. 1 on the UK boxed chart for the week ending Sep 19, 2026, according to GfK's data as reported by The Game Business and Nintendo Life. The same reports compared it with other launches:
| Comparison (UK boxed launch week) | Marvel's Wolverine |
|---|---|
| Rank among PS5 launches of 2026 | Third, behind Resident Evil Requiem and 007 First Light |
| Against Marvel's Spider-Man 2 | About 60% lower |
| Against Ghost of Yotei | Slightly lower |
| Against Death Stranding 2 | Nearly three times higher |
Boxed charts count discs only, and most PS5 games now sell digitally, so these comparisons say more about the shape of the launch than its size. They do suggest a pattern: a strong opening, but well short of Spider-Man 2.
How many copies has Marvel's Wolverine sold?
2.4 million copies worldwide by Nov 4, 2026, according to Sony's earnings report for its fiscal second quarter (July to September 2026), published Nov 5, 2026 and reported by Game World Observer and Shacknews. It is the only official figure. Before it, the analysts had made these estimates from panels and models; Sony's number came in at the top of their range:
| Firm | Published | Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Alinea Analytics (Rhys Elliott) | Sep 18, 2026 | About 1.9 million copies and $130 million in the first three days; 53% of sales in the US; 22.9% of revenue physical |
| Ampere Analysis | Oct 22, 2026 | About 2.16 million copies in September 2026; 35% of launch sales physical |
| Alinea Analytics | Oct 14, 2026 | About 2.5 million copies and $192.9 million on PS5 |
The two firms disagree on the physical share (22.9% of revenue against 35% of sales), which is a reminder that these are models. Push Square, reviewing the numbers in October 2026, called the estimates "somewhat soft". Alinea also estimated that two-thirds of buyers had played at least 10 hours; that is on How Long to Beat.
How does it compare with Spider-Man 2?
Not closely. Sony announced that Marvel's Spider-Man 2 sold more than 2.5 million copies in its first 24 hours in October 2023, and that it passed 10 million in under four months. Sony's own figure for Wolverine after seven weeks, 2.4 million, is a little less than what Spider-Man 2 sold in a day, and the UK boxed comparison (about 60% lower) points the same way.
| Marvel's Spider-Man 2 | Marvel's Wolverine | |
|---|---|---|
| First 24 hours | Over 2.5 million (Sony) | Not published |
| First month | Not published | About 2.2 to 2.5 million (estimates) |
| First seven weeks | Not published | 2.4 million (Sony, by Nov 4, 2026) |
| Later milestone | Over 10 million in under four months (Sony) | Not published |
| Metacritic | 90 | 75 |
We think the comparison is a little unfair to Wolverine. Spider-Man 2 followed two games that had sold tens of millions between them, was an open world for every age, and was rated T; Wolverine is a new, linear, M-rated game about a character whose last solo game came out in 2009. Reaching a third of Spider-Man 2's pace with those handicaps is a solid start.
Did the reviews hurt sales?
Not in the first month, as far as the data shows. The most negative opinions were loud: IGN's reviewer said he "wouldn't tell people to rush out day one" and suggested waiting "if it's in a sale". Yet Circana still had it at No. 1 for September.
The loudest negative review came from a creator, not an outlet: Skill Up's "I do not recommend" video, about 3.9 million views by Nov 8, 2026. In this stretch he calls the bosses "bad", the Sentinel "easily the worst boss in the game", and the decision to make only Wolverine playable the biggest missed opportunity, when so many missions put Mystique, Sabretooth or Jean beside him. We think the reviews will show up later rather than at launch: in a smaller long tail, and in how soon the price falls. The Digital Deluxe Edition was already 25% off on Nov 8, 2026, eight weeks after launch (Editions and Price).
Pent-up demand for the character helped. GamingBolt's review put it plainly: "We haven't had a truly great Wolverine game in what feels like forever, with 2009's X-Men Origins: Wolverine immediately coming to mind." Seventeen years without a Wolverine game of his own is a long time for one of Marvel's best-known heroes; the earlier games are on Insomniac Marvel Games in Order.
Did it sell PS5 consoles?
Circana reported that PS5 hardware dollar sales in the US rose 43% year on year in September 2026, and units 22%, the month the Battle Yellow bundle went on sale. Circana did not say how many of those consoles were Wolverine bundles, and no source attributes the rise to the game alone. Coverage of the same report said the Battle Yellow DualSense was the month's top-selling US accessory; the hardware is on Editions and Price.
When will Sony announce sales?
Sony announced Spider-Man 2's sales as milestones, a 24-hour figure and then 10 million. For Wolverine it gave no launch milestone; the first figure, 2.4 million by Nov 4, 2026, came in the quarterly earnings report of Nov 5, 2026. On launch eve, Liam McIntyre told BBC News that the team had put "decades worth of man hours" into the game over five years; a sales milestone would be the first official measure of how that paid off.
Our prediction: we think Sony announces a figure for Marvel's Wolverine by the end of May 2027, either in its fiscal-year results or around a first sale or PlayStation Plus date, and that the figure is at least 3 million copies, since Circana's No. 1 and both firms' estimates already point past 2 million in the first month. More on Predictions.
Result (Nov 8, 2026): Partly right. Sony gave a figure much sooner than we expected, in its Nov 5, 2026 earnings report rather than by May 2027, but it was 2.4 million copies by Nov 4, 2026 (Game World Observer), under the 3 million we predicted; Sony spoke before the game reached a round number.
Frequently asked questions
How many copies has Marvel's Wolverine sold?
2.4 million copies worldwide by Nov 4, 2026, according to Sony's earnings report of Nov 5, 2026. Before that, Alinea Analytics had estimated about 2.5 million by mid-October 2026 and Ampere Analysis about 2.16 million in September.
Was Marvel's Wolverine the best-selling game of September 2026?
Yes, in the US, according to Circana, ahead of NBA 2K27 and EA Sports FC 27.
Did Marvel's Wolverine sell better than Spider-Man 2?
No. Spider-Man 2 sold more than 2.5 million copies in its first 24 hours, by Sony's count; Wolverine had sold 2.4 million after seven weeks, by Sony's count of Nov 4, 2026.
Was it No. 1 in the UK?
Yes, on the UK boxed chart for the week ending Sep 19, 2026, though its boxed launch was about 60% smaller than Spider-Man 2's.
Is Marvel's Wolverine a flop?
No. By Circana's measured sales it was the top game in the US in its launch month; it sold well below Spider-Man 2, which is a different thing.
Sources
- Game World Observer, Nov 5, 2026: Sony report, PlayStation profits nearly doubled while sales of Marvel's Wolverine reached 2.4 million copies
- Shacknews, Nov 5, 2026: Marvel's Wolverine sales
- PSU, Oct 22, 2026: Marvel's Wolverine topped US game sales for September 2026 as PS5 hardware jumps 43%
- Nintendo Life, Sep 2026: UK charts
- Insider Gaming, Sep 18, 2026: Analytics firm estimates Marvel's Wolverine sold 1.9 million copies in release week
- Tech4Gamers, Oct 14, 2026: Marvel's Wolverine earned $193 million
- Gematsu, Oct 2023: Marvel's Spider-Man 2 sold over 2.5 million copies in first 24 hours
- Game Developer, Feb 2024: Marvel's Spider-Man 2 tops 10 million sales in under four months
- IGN, Sep 2026: Marvel's Wolverine Just Doesn't Cut It, Beyond Clips
- IGN, Sep 10, 2026: Marvel's Wolverine review
- GamingBolt, Sep 10, 2026: Marvel's Wolverine review
- BBC News, Sep 14, 2026: Liam McIntyre on the reviews
Moments
Marvel's Wolverine Just Doesn't Cut It - Beyond Clips
IGN
Marvel's Wolverine Review
IGN
I do not recommend: Marvel's Wolverine (Review)
Skill Up
Marvel's Wolverine Review - The Final Verdict
GamingBolt
PlayStation's Wolverine Liam McIntyre on reviews and opinions of the new game | BBC News
BBC News
Related
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Release Date and LaunchMarvel's Wolverine came out on Sep 15, 2026, on PlayStation 5 only. It was dated on Feb 24, 2026, reviews went up on Sep 10, and a day-one update, 1.001.004, was out on launch day.
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TrailersMarvel's Wolverine has had about a dozen official trailers and featurettes, from the Sep 9, 2021 reveal teaser to the Oct 16, 2026 motion-capture featurette. The ones that show real gameplay are the Sep 24, 2025 gameplay trailer, the Jun 2, 2026 extended gameplay reveal and the Aug 28, 2026 Game Features trailer.
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Combat and RageMarvel's Wolverine is a close-range, parry-driven brawler: claws, kicks, a gap-closing leap and cooldown-based Special Techniques, held together by a Rage meter with three tiers. Rage Tier 2 unlocks Last Stand, the revive that stands in for the Healing Factor, and Tier 3 turns the screen gray and makes weak enemies die in one hit.
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Skills: Techniques and AdaptationsLogan grows in two trees. Techniques (six active Special Techniques plus passive moves) are bought with Technique Points from leveling up; Adaptations are passive buffs slotted into Strands, bought with Adaptation Points from Whisky Bottles and Nightmare Trials. Tornado Spin, Knee Breaker and the healing Adaptations are the guides' first picks.
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Suits and ClawsMarvel's Wolverine has 32 suits (27 in the base game, 5 in the Digital Deluxe Edition) and 26 claw styles (23 that come with suits, 3 standalone from Nightmare Trials), per GamingBolt. Most suits are crafted with materials from Material Crates after a story mission unlocks them, and every crafted suit raises Logan's maximum health.
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Tips and TricksThe 20 things worth knowing before and during Marvel's Wolverine, from creators' and guides' play - parry blue, dodge red, unlock Healing Strike first, end a barrage with Triangle to heal, spend materials on suits at once (they raise health), put your favorite technique on the combo-ender recharge, and turn off the scent trails if they bother you.
See also
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ReviewsMarvel's Wolverine scores 75 on Metacritic from 149 critics and 76 on OpenCritic, as of Nov 8, 2026, with players at 6.7. Critics praised the story, Jean Grey and the gore and faulted repetitive combat, heavy hand-holding and few bosses; it is the lowest-rated of Insomniac's Marvel games.
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Insomniac GamesMarvel's Wolverine was made by Insomniac Games, the Burbank studio behind Spyro, Ratchet & Clank and Marvel's Spider-Man, owned by Sony since 2019; it was revealed in 2021 under Brian Horton and Cameron Christian, finished under game director Mike Daly, and survived a 2023 ransomware attack that leaked part of its development.
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How Long to BeatMarvel's Wolverine's story takes about 11 to 15 hours: two recorded no-commentary runs finished in 11 hours 23 minutes and 11 hours 52 minutes, and IGN's reviewer called it a 15-hour string of missions. Everything, all 102 collectibles and the platinum, takes about 15 to 20 hours.
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Insomniac Marvel Games in OrderInsomniac's Marvel games in release order are Marvel's Spider-Man (Sep 7, 2018), Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Marvel's Spider-Man Remastered (Nov 12, 2020), Marvel's Spider-Man 2 (Oct 20, 2023) and Marvel's Wolverine (Sep 15, 2026), all set in one universe; play them in that order, though Wolverine stands on its own.
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PredictionsWe think Marvel's Wolverine gets no story DLC, and that its sequel, not shown before 2028, makes the figure from the post-credits scene its villain and gives Jean Grey a playable part.