The Horizon: Forbidden West Bundle
Regular readers might note that Horizon: Forbidden West, which dominates the weekly physical charts (from GfK), doesn’t factor at all in the monthly software figures (from GSD). This is because this monthly chart does not factor in console bundles, while the weekly chart does.
The PS5 Horizon bundle has been a bit hit, and over the last three months, 50% of PS5 console sales have been of the official Horizon bundle.
“The rise in fortunes for PS5, apart from the variable that is available stock in any given week, can be attributed to the success of the Horizon Forbidden West Official Bundles -- the first of which hit the UK market in week 19 (May22),” explains GfK games boss Dorian Bloch.
“Since the official bundles launched, looking at the three months of May to July, 50% of PS5 hardware was derived from the two official bundles. This also explains the high chart position for Horizon: Forbidden West in the box software charts over these weeks. Recently, the official bundles have accounted for less PS5 hardware, but many retailers are now soft bundling Horizon: Forbidden West with standard PS5 consoles, especially if they are low on stock with the official bundles. All of this means that Horizon: Forbidden West continues to ride high in the software charts, with an original No1 at launch, and a further five No1’s long after launch, all thanks to bundles.”