UK Sales Chart, Week Ending November 26th

Already tipped as a likely Christmas number one, Electronic Arts’ latest entry in the Need for Speed franchise has entered straight into number one in the weekly UK sales charts. The only other new entry in the top ten this week has been the controversial 50 Cent: Bulletproof at number five, although the sudden rise of Pro Evolution Soccer 5 to number two can be attributed to the delayed release of the PSP version, as the UK charts include all formats of a game under the same chart placing. Indeed, after an unconvincing few months in the charts, the PSP has enjoyed one of its best weeks yet with exclusive titles World Tour Soccer and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas still ensconced firmly in the top ten, with Pursuit Force also at number nineteen. By comparison, the debut of Mario Kart DS at number thirteen is less impressive, although as with Nintendogs, official game bundles with hardware are not counted in the Chart-Track charts, which may have cost the title a few positions. Other entries in the top forty include True Crime: New York City at number twenty – another low entry for a major Activision franchise, as the company continues to suffer a disappointing run-up to Christmas. Electronic Arts’ expansion pack Battlefield 2: Special Forces entered at twenty-four, while The Chronicles of Narnina: The Lion, the Witch and The Wardrobe came in at number thirty. The latter is considered to be one of the main rivals to Need for Speed over Christmas, but will rely on the release of the movie to catapult it into the top ten. Next week will see the release of the Xbox 360 in the UK and Europe, although with limited stock, it is difficult to predict the exact effect it will have on the sales charts.

Official UK Leisure Software Charts (c) ELSPA compiled by Chart-Track