Analyst Estimates Marvel’s Wolverine Sold 1.9 Million Copies, Though It Won’t Match Spider-Man’s Heights

Although Sony has not released an official sales figure for Marvel’s Wolverine, analyst Rhys Elliott of Alinea Analytics estimates the PlayStation Studios title moved approximately 1.9 million copies since its September 15 launch, generating roughly $130 million in revenue. Speaking on social media, Elliott broke down the composition of those earnings and offered a sobering forecast for the Insomniac Games superhero property as it compares itself to the runaway success of Spider-Man 2.

Elliott noted that an estimated 22.9% of the game’s revenue came from physical copies, a detail with added significance given Sony’s plans to cease production of PlayStation discs by 2028. The analyst cautioned, however, that these figures remain unofficial estimates rather than data confirmed by the publisher.

An Unofficial Number With Official Precedent

Sony has yet to make any official sales announcement for Marvel’s Wolverine, even though it has a history of celebrating PlayStation Studios milestones. For example, Sucker Punch’s Ghost of Yotei went on sale on October 2, 2025 and sold 3.3 million units as of November 2 at the 32-day mark, according to Sony’s official figures.

The comparison that matters most is Insomniac’s own Spider-Man 2. On October 23, Sony announced that Insomniac’s PlayStation 5 exclusive Spider-Man 2 sold more than 2.5 million copies in 24 hours, meaning the open-world superhero game overtook Santa Monica Studio’s God of War Ragnarok at the top of the PlayStation day-one launch sales chart. At the time, it was the fastest-selling PlayStation Studios game in history, a record that Helldivers 2 now holds.

Assuming Alinea Analytics is tracking accurately, Marvel’s Wolverine sits behind Spider-Man 2 on paper. It has already surpassed the lifetime PS5 copies sold and revenue of Hideo Kojima’s Death Stranding 2, which made headlines when Sony parted ways with the developer over its “Physint.” According to Elliott, Wolverine ranks as the top-performing new PlayStation Studios game released on PS5 so far this year, edging out MLB The Show, Bungie’s Marathon, Housemarque’s Saros, and fighting game Marvel Tōkon.

Mixed Reception Caps the Long Tail

The central question now revolves around how long Wolverine will continue to sell. The game currently holds a 77 Metascore, with IGN’s Marvel’s Wolverine review returning a 6 out of 10. We wrote that the title’s slick and satisfying combat wears thin well before its conclusion, so much so that even its strong character work can’t quite save it from being anything more than okay.

“So yes, Wolverine has sold well, but its commercial long tail is limited by its mixed media and streamer reception. Unlike Spider-Man, which reviewed insanely well and has stayed evergreen for years, this one’s tail will be shorter and lumpier, but still there.”

Rhys Elliott, Alinea Analytics

Elliott framed the game’s trajectory against a wave of upcoming catalysts. He expects a bump when the MCU kicks into gear this December with the release of Avengers: Doomsday, which features the X-Men (though it remains unclear whether Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine appears). Wolverine may also benefit from the expanded PS5 install base that will inevitably arrive alongside GTA 6 in November, and it is sure to prove a popular choice under the Christmas tree.

“Wolverine will keep selling, just not at Spider-Man heights. Spidey’s been evergreen. Wolverine will be more ever-yellow.”

Rhys Elliott, Alinea Analytics

A Developer Listening and a Community Exploring

Earlier this week, Insomniac said it was planning to “further refine the player experience” based on feedback. One aspect the studio may examine is Wolverine’s infamous “fart gas,” which has become the butt of online jokes in recent weeks. Some players have called for Insomniac to add the ability to disable Logan’s scent trail entirely from the game amid complaints about excessive handholding.

Meanwhile, Marvel’s Wolverine players are testing its motorcycle sequence to see if Logan can die if you don’t touch the controller. Another player managed to take Logan out of bounds, revealing new areas of the game and keeping the community engaged long after launch.

As the holiday season approaches, all eyes will remain on whether Wolverine’s commercial momentum holds steady. The early numbers suggest a solid performer that simply cannot replicate the evergreen phenomenon of its Spider-Man predecessor—a result that is profitable for Sony, if somewhat less legendary.