UK Gaming Charts See Minimal Shift, Kirby Air Riders Drops Out of Top 40

The United Kingdom's recent video game sales rankings reveal a period of stability, with only minor adjustments among the leading titles, even in the wake of Black Friday promotional events. A notable development is the complete disappearance of Kirby Air Riders from the top 40, a game that nearly entered the top ten in the preceding week, underscoring the dynamic and sometimes unpredictable nature of the gaming market.

The current week's top ten closely mirrors the previous week's lineup, albeit with a couple of significant re-entries. Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition experienced a remarkable ascent, climbing from the 24th position to an impressive 6th. This surge in sales was primarily driven by its PC and PlayStation 5 versions, though the Nintendo Switch 2 iteration also contributed a respectable 9% to its overall sales. Similarly, Just Dance 2026 Edition, an exclusive for the original Switch console, demonstrated a substantial leap, moving from 27th to 9th place.

Other established titles continued their strong performance. EA SPORTS FC 26, which saw 21% of its sales on the original Switch and 8% on the Switch 2, along with Mario Kart World and Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, successfully retained their spots from the previous week, showcasing their enduring popularity among consumers. These consistent performances highlight the continued dominance of certain franchises and genres in the UK market.

A slight reshuffling occurred between Pokémon Legends: Z-A and Battlefield 6, with the former now occupying the 4th position. The sales distribution for Pokémon Legends: Z-A remains closely balanced between the Switch (54%) and Switch 2 (46%) versions, not accounting for separate upgrade pack purchases. This close split suggests a strong user base across both console generations for the popular Pokémon series.

Given the relatively subdued movement in the charts, observers are now looking ahead to see if the upcoming release of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond will introduce a more substantial shake-up to the current gaming landscape. The stability, even with Black Friday, indicates a market where consumer preferences for top-tier games are firmly entrenched, making it challenging for newer titles or less mainstream genres to break through.

Despite the bustling Black Friday period, the UK gaming charts remained largely static, with Kirby Air Riders unexpectedly exiting the top 40 after a promising performance last week. While familiar blockbusters held their ground, Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition and Just Dance 2026 Edition made notable advances, signaling sustained interest in both new and enduring titles.