In July 2025, College Football 26 (released on July 11) topped PlayStation's sales charts, moving 1.3 million copies and pulling in $73.4 million in revenue. By early August, PS5 sales had climbed to 1.4 million copies. The numbers are solid, but they represent roughly one-third the pace of College Football 25, which had cleared 4 million sales at the same point the previous year.
The drop makes sense. CF 25 was the franchise's comeback after more than a decade away, so the novelty factor was huge. Still, CF 26 has outsold Madden 25 on PlayStation, which has hit 1.2 million units despite being available on both PS4 and PS5. The deluxe edition of CF 26, sold exclusively as a digital download, pushed the physical copy share down to just 5 percent.
Top Games By Copies Sold in July 2025
Ready or Not Makes $40 Million in Revenue
Ready or Not, a hardcore SWAT shooter from VOID Interactive that launched on PC in 2023, arrived on PS5 in July and moved 1 million copies, generating over $40 million. The game's realistic tactical approach clearly connected with console players, standing apart from the shift toward more stylized shooters.
The console launch went well, but it sparked backlash from PC players who review-bombed the game on Steam in protest of changes made to the PC version. Despite the noise, daily active users on PC have hit all-time highs, which suggests the vocal critics don't represent the broader player base.
Top Games By Copies Sold in July 2025
Familiar Franchises and Xbox Games Secure Top 5
EA FC 25 landed in third place on July's PlayStation charts, selling 908,000 copies after a price drop to $15 on the PlayStation Store. The promotion kept it among the top sellers, and more discounts are expected before FC 26 arrives. Minecraft took fourth place with 494,000 copies sold across platforms in July. Microsoft's acquisition of Mojang continues to pay off as the game maintains its long-term popularity.
Forza Horizon 5 on PS5 claimed fifth, moving 399,000 copies after a mid-month price cut from $60 to $45. The game has now sold 3.6 million copies on PlayStation, generating $164.2 million in revenue. Microsoft keeps $114.9 million of that, while Sony takes $49.3 million. The results highlight Xbox's increasing focus on third-party publishing as Game Pass subscription growth levels off.
Top Games By Copies Sold in July 2025
Death Stranding 2 Hits 1 Million Copies
Kojima Productions' Death Stranding 2 added 372,000 PS5 sales in July, pushing its total to 1.1 million copies. About 65 percent of those sales were digital. Revenue has crossed $60 million. Player retention looks strong: roughly 75 percent of players have logged more than 20 hours, and 34 percent have passed 50 hours. Early comparisons to Alan Wake 2 haven't held up. DS2 is selling three times faster on PS5 and keeping players engaged at a higher rate. Nearly one in five PS5 players of Alan Wake 2 have also picked up Death Stranding 2, pointing to crossover appeal among fans of auteur-driven games.
Top Games By Copies Sold in July 2025
GTA V vs GTA 6 Pricing Debate
Grand Theft Auto V kept rolling in July, selling 358,000 copies and proving its staying power on PlayStation. Ongoing interest in GTA 6 has reignited pricing speculation. Despite online chatter about a potential $100 base price, there's no credible indication that GTA 6 will launch at that price point.
Rematch, WUCHANG and Expedition 33 Excel
Newer titles held their own against bigger brands. Rematch kept climbing, selling 308,000 PS5 copies in July. The game draws players from both Rocket League and EA FC communities and benefits from strong Twitch visibility. This adds to its 1.6 million sales on Steam.
WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers, a souls-like game, debuted at ninth place with 291,000 copies sold on PS5 in its first week. Total PS5 sales have reached 326,000, with 660,000 units sold on Steam. Despite optimization concerns, WUCHANG is outperforming its peers in the genre. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a turn-based RPG, sold 172,000 copies in July. Since its April launch, it has hit 1.5 million sales on PS5 and 2.4 million on Steam, outpacing many established JRPG franchises.
Top Games By Copies Sold in July 2025
Outlook and Market Implications
July's PlayStation sales reflect a mix of established franchises, successful ports, and rising independent IPs. EA and Xbox titles held strong positions, helped by price promotions and cross-platform strategies. At the same time, games like Death Stranding 2, WUCHANG, and Rematch show that immersive, narrative-driven experiences continue to find dedicated audiences.
Sales data for Gears Reloaded on PS5 and Helldivers 2 on Xbox is expected later in August, which should provide more insight into broader market trends and publisher strategies. Here is a list of all the games mentioned in the article, in the order they appear:
- College Football 26
- College Football 25
- Madden 25
- Ready or Not
- EA FC 25
- FC 26
- Minecraft
- Forza Horizon 5
- Death Stranding 2
- Alan Wake 2
- Grand Theft Auto V (GTA V)
- Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6)
- Rematch
- Rocket League
- WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Gears Reloaded
- Helldivers 2
Source: Alinea Analytics
