Football sim fends off Call of Duty to take coveted spot
Statutory body GfK has released the final UK Chart placings before Christmas, revealing that Electronic Arts’ football simFIFA 23is officially 2022’s Christmas No.1, at least in regard to physical game sales.
Riding high on a wave of World Cup fever,FIFA 23successfully fended off advances from both Activision’sCall of Duty: Modern Warfare IIand Sony Santa Monica’sGod of War: Ragnarokin order to retain its number one position for the coveted Christmas weekend. For many years now, the battle to be the star atop the Christmas Tree has been waged between the FIFA andCall of Dutyfranchises.FIFAhas now taken the spot on 10 separate occasions, whileCall of Dutyhas racked up a still-impressive nine.
FIFA 23represents the series’ final release to receive official branding from the football regulatory body FIFA. As of the next release, the mega-selling franchisewill be rebrandedasEA Sports FC.
Elsewhere in the charts, the only new physical release was Square Enix’sCrisis Core: Final Fantasy 7 Reunion, which made a modest debut within the Top Ten at number eight. As is always the case during the holidays, the remainder of the Top 20 is packed out with Nintendo Switch releases, includingPokemon Scarlet&Violetat numbers seven and five respectively,Minecraft Switchat number nine,Nintendo Switch Sportsat number six, and the ever-presentMario Kart 8 Deluxeat number four.
U.K. video game sales chartw/e: June 09, 2025(Chart reflects in-store physical sales only)
1.FIFA 23– Electronic Arts2.Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II– Activision3.God of War Ragnarok– Sony Interactive Entertainment4.Mario Kart 8 Deluxe– Nintendo5.Pokemon Violet– Nintendo6.Nintendo Switch Sports– Nintendo7.Pokemon Scarlet –Nintendo8.Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion– Square Enix9.Minecraft: Switch Edition– Nintendo10.Just Dance 2023– Ubisoft
