Battlefield 6 Returns to the Top of EU Sales Charts as Pokémon Legends Z-A Slips

A new report from The Game Business, supported by GSD data, shows that Battlefield 6 has reclaimed the top position in the European video game sales charts for the week of October 19–26, surpassing Pokémon Legends Z-A after its strong launch week.

During its debut, Pokémon Legends Z-A dominated the charts, pushing Battlefield 6 to second and EA Sports FC 26 to third. Now, the positions have shifted: Battlefield 6 is back at number one, EA Sports FC 26 remains in second, and Pokémon Legends Z-A has dropped to third in both units sold and revenue earned.

It is important to note that Nintendo does not share digital sales data, meaning GSD’s numbers reflect physical copies only. However, industry speculation suggests that Pokémon Legends Z-A’s digital performance may also be underwhelming, potentially due to the lack of refund options on the Nintendo eShop. Some players who were dissatisfied with the game’s performance and content may have avoided digital purchases altogether, preferring the flexibility of physical copies or waiting for updates and reviews before buying.

This growing awareness of Nintendo’s strict digital refund policy could be influencing consumer behavior, especially as the community’s discussions around the game’s technical issues and mixed reception continue. While physical sales remain strong enough to keep it in the top three, Pokémon Legends Z-A may have underperformed in the digital market compared to other major launches.

Beyond the top three, the charts reveal several noteworthy shifts. Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2, both major October releases, failed to enter the top ten for units sold but managed to secure positions in the revenue earned chart, ranking sixth and ninth, respectively. This indicates that despite fewer copies sold, higher pricing or premium editions helped boost revenue.

Meanwhile, three titles that reached the units sold top ten were absent from the revenue chart. Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted landed at sixth in units sold, while Titanfall 2 surged to eighth with an astonishing 3,688% increase in sales compared to the previous week. Mass Effect: Legendary Edition also returned to prominence, claiming the tenth spot.

Both Titanfall 2 and Mass Effect: Legendary Edition owe their dramatic sales boosts to deep Steam discounts, as both titles were discounted by 90%, according to SteamDB’s Titanfall 2 listing and Mass Effect: Legendary Edition listing. The heavy markdowns made two of gaming’s most acclaimed franchises available for just a few dollars, spurring massive week-over-week growth.

While Battlefield 6’s return to the top reinforces EA’s strong momentum in both shooter and sports genres, the shifting chart positions also highlight how pricing strategies, platform policies, and digital sales transparency continue to play an increasingly important role in modern game sales performance.

 
Do you think Nintendo’s lack of digital refund options is discouraging players from buying Pokémon Legends Z-A online?