UFC 2009: Undisputed Mixes Up U.K. Charts

THQ’s mixed martial arts fighting game UFC 2009: Undisputed for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 was able to top the all-platforms chart in the U.K. for the week ended May 23, Chart-Track reported on Tuesday. But on an individual SKU basis, Nintendo DS’ Pokemon Platinum Version, a spin-off of 2007’s Pokemon Diamond and Pearl that released on May 22 in the U.K., was able to capture the lead slot for the week. UFC 2009 and Pokemon Platinum helped end the reign of Wii Fit, which topped the U.K. all-platform charts for the past seven consecutive weeks when combining sales of all versions of a given game. UFC 2009 is one of THQ’s major releases for the year. The publisher needs as many hits as it can get, as earlier this year it announced a 24 percent staff reduction equaling layoffs of about 600 workers. The publisher said that it would focus on fewer, bigger releases as opposed to spreading itself too thin across a broader portfolio. Unit sales of the Yuke’s-developed UFC 2009 were split nearly down the middle, with 52 percent of the share going to Xbox 360, and 48 percent to PS3. Aside from UFC 2009 and Pokemon Platinum, the only other new game breaking U.K.’s weekly individual platform top 10 was the Wii Balance Board-compatible EA Sports Active. EA’s take on exer-gaming bumped down Nintendo’s own Wii Fit, which dropped from the top spot last week to number five. Titles dropping off the weekly U.K. top 10 from the prior week include the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions of FIFA 09, Rhythm Paradise and Brain Training. Below are the unit sales rankings for individual platforms for the week ended May 23:

Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (C)2009 ELSPA Ltd