In a surprising turn of events, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach has managed to secure the top spot in the UK physical sales charts, even as its launch sales were 66% lower than its predecessor. This shift underscores the evolving dynamics of the gaming market, where digital sales are increasingly eclipsing physical copies.
The game, developed by Kojima Productions, displaced the highly anticipated Mario Kart World, a launch title for the Switch 2, from the top of the charts. Despite the decline in physical sales, Death Stranding 2 has demonstrated strong retail performance, reflecting a complex landscape for video game distribution.
Changing Market Dynamics
The decline in physical sales for Death Stranding 2 is indicative of broader industry trends. According to recent reports, boxed game sales accounted for a mere 4% of all video game spending in the UK in 2024. This marks a significant shift from five years ago, as digital distribution becomes the norm.
Industry expert Chris Dring highlighted the disparity, noting that Death Stranding 2’s physical sales were also 33% lower than last year’s Astro Bot, which was an anomaly due to its physical-heavy release strategy.
Death Stranding 2 was No.1 in the UK physical charts last week. Its launch sales were -66% lower than Death Stranding 1… but different eras. It’s a far more digital market today. It’s 33% lower than Astro Bot’s launch, but that was also a physical heavy release, too. — Christopher Dring (@Chris_Dring) June 29, 2025
Top Ten UK Physical Sales
Despite the overall decline in physical sales, the latest charts reveal a competitive landscape:
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
- Mario Kart World
- Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate Edition
- Hogwarts Legacy
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
- Minecraft
- The Thing Remastered
- EA Sports FC 25
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Game of the Year Edition
- Mortal Kombat 1
Digital Dominance and Future Implications
The gaming industry is witnessing a paradigm shift towards digital sales, with Death Stranding 2 being a prime example. The game’s Deluxe Edition, which offered early access, was exclusively available digitally, further contributing to its digital sales dominance.
On the PlayStation Store in the UK, Death Stranding 2 ranks just behind EA Sports FC 25 in the best-sellers list. However, comprehensive data on digital sales remains elusive, as companies like Sony do not publicly disclose concurrent player statistics or other relevant metrics.
Earlier this year, we reported that in 2024 boxed games sales accounted for just 4% of all video game spending in the UK. It’s actually difficult to find new physical games at retail unless you shop online these days.
Looking Ahead
The success of Death Stranding 2 amidst declining physical sales highlights the importance of adapting to digital trends. As the industry continues to evolve, developers and retailers alike must navigate this digital transformation to meet consumer demands.
While the current data provides a snapshot of the market, further insights into digital sales will be crucial for a comprehensive understanding of the game’s performance. As gamers increasingly opt for digital downloads, the industry must continue to innovate and adapt to this new era of gaming.
