Proof, as if it were needed, that the FIFA franchise gets bigger and better with each passing year – the newest outing has just scored the largest Number 1 launch since Grand Theft Auto IV and has already sold 48% more than last year’s excellent edition.

This makes FIFA 10 the most successful FIFA ever, of course – and that really is saying something, all things considered. The Xbox 360 game just edges the PlayStation 3 version too; with a scant 2% separating the pair (48% and 46% share respectively). We guess that’s as telling an indication of the PS3’s rising prominence as any.

But other games are available; they’re just not selling as many. That’s dramatically the case for ODST, which slips to third place after a 75% reduction in sales. Otherwise it’s been a decent week for Nintendo formats, with Layton’s latest sticking in second place, Wii Sports Resort holding up in fifth while many others are slipping (thanks no doubt to that new £179 bundle) and re-entries for MySims Agent and the still-brill Mario Kart Wii.

More new entries pop up lower down the chart, most notably PSP Gran Turismo at 12, Ninja Gaiden: Sigma 2 at 23 and Xbox 360 adventure Risen (which didn’t, really) at 26. But where-oh-where is Beaterator on this week’s countdown? In fact the Rockstar Games/Timabaland mashup hasn’t even placed in the PSP-specific top ten, which is sort of puzzling. Elsewhere we note the slow passing of The Beatles Rock Band, which slips to 20 and is a little sad to see. Hey-ho, though, here’s how it all looks for the week ending October 3rd:

1. FIFA 10 (NE)
2. Professor Layton and Pandora’s Box (2)
3. Halo 3: ODST (1)
4. Need for Speed: Shift (3)
5. Wii Sports Resort (5)
6. Guitar Hero 5 (4)
7. MySims Agents (14)
8. Colin McRae: Dirt 2 (8)
9. Mario Kart Wii (12)
10. Batman: Arkham Asylum (6)

Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, ©2009 ELSPA Ltd