I was looking at software sales by console recently and something struck me that I had never given much thought before.  Currently, the #1 selling game on PS4 is Grand Theft Auto V.  It's no secret that GTAV is a multi-platform game selling phenomenon.  But, what really caught my attention is the fact that GTAV was also the #1 selling game on Sony's previous gen console the PS3.  The reason that most caught my attention is because I don't ever remember a time where a console's best selling game was the same game as on their previous system.  Normally, a console's best selling game is also considered it's "Killer App".  The must have title that the highest percentage of a system's install base purchases, because it's considered the best game the console has to offer.  Does the PS3 and PS4 really share the same "Killer App"?  Regardless of what context it is framed in, I thought it interesting.

Sony Consoles:

Pos	Game	Console	Publisher	VGChartz Score	Critic Score	User Score	Sales	Release Date	Last Update
1		Grand Theft Auto V		Rockstar Games	N/A	N/A	N/A	16.28m	18th Nov 14	03rd Jan 18

1

Grand Theft Auto V

Rockstar Games

N/A

9.4

N/A

20.64m

17th Sep 13

N/A

1

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

Rockstar Games

N/A

9.5

N/A

20.81m

26th Oct 04

N/A

1

Gran Turismo

Sony Computer Entertainment

N/A

9.5

N/A

10.95m

30th Apr 98

N/A

Notes:  The PS3 & PS4 versions of GTAV were not released simultaneously.  The PS3 version released September 13, 2013, while the PS4 version released November 18, 2014.  The PS4 launched on September 15, 2013 (NA release).  Since we are into the 5th year of the PS4's lifespan, I believe that GTAV has cemented it's position in the top spot of PS4's software at this point (unless GTAVI releases in the near future!).

Microsoft Consoles:

Pos	Game	Console	Publisher	VGChartz Score	Critic Score	User Score	Sales	Release Date	Last Update
1		Call of Duty: Black Ops 3		Activision	N/A	N/A	N/A	7.24m	06th Nov 15	N/A

1

Kinect Adventures! Read the review

Microsoft

6.2

6.7

N/A

22.08m

04th Nov 10

N/A

1

Halo 2

Microsoft

N/A

9.6

N/A

8.49m

09th Nov 04

N/A

Notes:  GTAV is the 2nd highest selling game on Xbox One currently.  It's close behind, but it's also been on shelves a year longer than COD Black Ops 3.  While it is also the 2nd highest selling game on Xbox 360, it is short of the top spot by a wide margin (6 million).  

Nintendo Consoles:

Pos	Game	Console	Publisher	VGChartz Score	Critic Score	User Score	Sales	Release Date	Last Update
1		The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild		Nintendo	N/A	9.9	N/A	4.54m	03rd Mar 17	29th Nov 17

1

Mario Kart 8

Nintendo

N/A

8.9

N/A

7.63m

30th May 14

21st Dec 17

1

Wii Sports

Nintendo

N/A

7.7

N/A

82.64m

19th Nov 06

N/A

1

Super Smash Bros. Melee

Nintendo

N/A

9.2

N/A

7.07m

02nd Dec 01

N/A

1

Super Mario 64

Nintendo

N/A

9.7

N/A

11.89m

26th Sep 96

N/A

1

Super Mario World

Nintendo

N/A

8.5

N/A

20.61m

13th Aug 91

17th Dec 17

1

Super Mario Bros.

Nintendo

N/A

N/A

N/A

40.24m

18th Oct 85

N/A

Notes:   "The Legend of Zelda:  Breath of the Wild" is currently in the top spot for Nintendo Switch.  While it was also released on Wii U, that was a simultaneous release.  Also, the Switch is only 9 months old, and Super Mario Odyssey is already rocketing up the charts.  Even if "Wii Sports" is discounted as a "pack-in game", it is still considered the Wii's "Killer App".  Regardless though, "Mario Kart Wii" sold over 35 million copies on its own.

***By the way, sorry about how sloppy the charts carried over.  It looked much better in preview mode.  It only came out haphazard looking once I posted.  The old format of the charts seemed to copy/paste much neater.***

It has a decent chance of being so, but we should wait and see the numbers of a surprise hit CoD or the new GTA VI. Anything can happen.

Also, food for thought, the closest case of this happening until now is the GB and the GBA. Pokemon RB was the best selling title for the GB, and their remakes were the second best selling games for the GBA.

GTA is basically a sony franchise, 3 gens the top seller on their consoles.

Yeah, I noticed that too when compiling the charts!

sony must love rockstar....

And to think that GTA on PS4 has a chance of outselling the PS3 version in sales makes it crazy, it’s now sitting at 2.5m for this year and might end up as high as 4m depending on how well it sells over the next couple weeks.

The thing is, for PS4 it is heavily bundled. Most consoles have their best selling game as part of a bundle. I think it highlights the importance of a GTAVI release though, if Rockstar had announced it for 2018 then for sure 2018 would be peak year.

Yep may be the first time...

It is also the first time we have the game of the generation being the same for 2 generations, that being The Last of Us... Sony is full of duplicates =p

GTA V is just selling insane numbers. Soon it will be number one for XOne, too.

You snooze you lose. 

Anyway this is quite incredible and just shows you the power of gta. It's a monster.