'The Last Of Us Part II' Now Best-Selling UK Game Ever

Anticipation for “The Last of Us Part II” on top of the global lockdown are a couple of key factors why the title is now the biggest selling game in United Kingdom history.

Developed by Naughty Dog and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment, the sequel to 2013’s “The Last of Us” launched with sales 76% higher than the original according to Games Industry.biz. With the PlayStation 4 being a more popular console than the PlayStation 3, that might be another factor for the massive numbers.

The survival action-adventure game is Sony’s fastest-selling release of this generation, topping 2016’s “Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End” (also from Naughty Dog) by just over 1%. This only counts physical sales, however, so if downloads and digital sales are added, the launch numbers might actually be even bigger for “The Last of Us Part II.”

In the UK, the game’s sales are 40% higher than “Animal Crossing: New Horizons” for the Nintendo Switch, the previous best-seller for 2020. For the third week in a row, “Ring Fit Adventure” also on the Nintendo Switch is relegated to second place despite week-on-week sales rising 31%.

The highly-anticipated sequel to 2013’s “The Last of Us” is a direct continuation of that game, with lead characters Joel and Ellie five years older and dealing with the consequences of their actions while traveling across the United States to try and survive a fungus that has turned the majority of the population into zombies.

Not even review bombing by some quarters and the overall dread that many felt while playing through its emotional storyline could harm the game’s sales. The coronavirus forcing many to stay at home could easily be cited as a reason why many chose to purchase “The Last of Us Part II” and play it while under quarantine.

The only significant arrival on the gaming charts for the past week was downloadable content for “Pokemon Sword” and “Pokemon Shield” in the form of “Isle of Armor.” The former thus rose back to No. 9 on the charts after a 51% increase in sales while the latter is at No. 22 with both games enjoying consecutive weeks of sales increases.

A strong run since its arrival in late March finally ends for “Animal Crossing: New Horizons” as it falls out of the top ten for the first time reports Game Industry.biz. The Nintendo Switch-exclusive dropped to No. 12, a result of a 33% drop in sales.