God of War Ragnarok has established a new record for the fastest-selling first-party launch in PlayStation history, according to Sony. The sequel to the renowned god-slaying franchise’s reinvention in 2018 has been one of the most eagerly awaited releases of 2022. With barely two weeks after its release, the game has already shown to be a strong sales force, outselling brands such as Pokemon and Call of Duty. Sony has now revealed that the latest God of War has not only set a record for the series but also for PlayStation in general.
While God of War Ragnarok has been one of the year’s most anticipated games, the creation of the next God of War was not without its challenges. Ragnarok was previously delayed many times, with its initial release date of 2021 being pushed back. The game’s success is already evident, as seen by strong sales figures and a nomination for Game of the Year at The Game Awards. God of War Ragnarok is currently shattering franchise and Sony records.
Congratulations to @SonySantaMonica for making God of War Ragnarök the fastest-selling first party launch game in PlayStation history! ? pic.twitter.com/NPgN6YHRnQ
— PlayStation (@PlayStation) November 23, 2022
Sony has reported that God of War: Ragnarok sold 5.1 million units across the PS4 and PS5 editions in the first week of its release. Sony stated that Ragnarok not only broke the God of War series record but also became the fastest-selling first-party PlayStation game. Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us Part 2 previously held Sony’s first-party record, selling over 4 million copies in its first week, while the 2018 God of War remake held the series record.
Ragnarok has already been a fan and reviewer favourite, with many naming it as one of the finest games of the year on Sony systems. Ragnarok has received similar high acclaim to its predecessor, with both God of War games receiving a Metacritic score of 94. The game has already received award show attention, with nominations in ten different categories for next month’s Game Awards. Ragnarok’s ten nominations are the most for a single game at the annual awards ceremony.
God of War Ragnarok seems to be a standout in a year with stiff competition from other highly anticipated games for the title of Game of the Year. Ragnarok will compete for The Game Awards’ most prized accolade against many other high-profile games, including From Software’s Elden Ring and rival Sony exclusive Horizon Forbidden West. The tremendous sales success of God of War Ragnarok is already visible and will undoubtedly continue to rise during the Christmas season.
