FIFA debuts at No.1 on the monthly US software chart for the first time

FIFA 21 debuted at No.1 on October’s US software sales chart.

It marks the first time EA’s long-running football series has launched as the best-selling game of the month in the US, according to NPD Group analyst Mat Piscatella.

FIFA 21 was the best-selling Xbox One and PS4 game in October, helping it hold off competition from fellow EA sports title Madden NFL 21.

New entries Watch Dogs Legion, NHL 21 and Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit rounded off the monthly top five, with Nintendo games occupying nine of the top 20 spots.

Watch Dogs: Legion’s performance is notable given its chart position was based on just three days’ sales.

As reported on Thursday, Nintendo Switch continued to dominate hardware sales in the US last month, achieving its best October on record.

According to NPD data published by Nintendo of America, a combined total of 735,926 Switch and Switch Lite consoles were sold last month, up 136% compared to October 2019.

Year-to-date dollar sales of Switch hardware are the second highest of any platform in US history, trailing only the Wii’s record established in 2008.

Switch has now been the best-selling US video game console for 23 consecutive months.

Further reading

EA confirms FIFA 21 next-gen will arrive after console launches

Both FIFA and NFL have been dated for December