This past week The Last of Us Part 2 launched on PlayStation 4, about 3 and a half years after its announcement. Given the critical reception and excitement for the original The Last of Us, anticipation for the sequel was understandably high. Few may have predicted just how excited PlayStation gamers were for The Last of Us Part 2, however. According to early sales data out of the United Kingdom, The Last of Us Part 2 has become the PS4’s fastest-selling exclusive yet.

According to GamesIndustry.biz, The Last of Us Part 2 outperformed the previous record-holder Uncharted 4 by just 1%. Digital sales are apparently not included in this number, however, so its performance is likely only to increase given the current increase in digital sales during the COVID-19 pandemic. It also has to be noted that this is UK-only data, so how The Last of Us Part 2 is faring in the USA or globally isn’t clear yet.

Another record that’s apparently been set is that The Last of Us Part 2 is the fastest-selling game overall in the UK this year. The spot was previously held by Animal Crossing: New Horizons, which The Last of Us Part 2 topped by over 40%.

The UK’s top 10 games for the week ending on June 20th is topped by The Last of Us Part 2, followed by the still popular exercise game Ring Fit Adventure. Behind that is the evergreen sports game FIFA 20, followed by Mario Kart 8: Deluxe, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, Grand Theft Auto 5, Minecraft, 51 Worldwide Games, Pokemon Shield, and Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. Animal Crossing: New Horizons fell out of the top 10 for the first time since its launch.

It’ll be interesting to see if The Last of Us Part 2 maintains its momentum over the coming weeks. It has received very impressive scores from reviewers, but it was also review bombed at launch by certain niche communities. The result is a surprising controversy partly driven by political beliefs clashing with protagonist Ellie’s gender and sexuality despite the game’s widespread positive reception.

The Last of Us Part 2 isn’t the PS4’s last major release, but it may be the console’s biggest. Ghost of Tsushima is on track to launch mid-July and should be well-received given developer Sucker Punch’s pedigree. When compared to Naughty Dog, though, The Last of Us Part 2 will be difficult to top.

The Last of Us Part 2 is available now on PS4.

Source: GamesIndustry.biz