A simple PDF error in SEGA SAMMY’s latest management report has accidentally revealed global sales figures for some of the company’s biggest games. The leak, discovered on June 18, happened when users found they could copy hidden text from a greyed-out box in the presentation. The data shows strong performances for major franchises like Persona, Yakuza, and Sonic, painting a surprisingly positive picture of the publisher’s health.
How a Simple Copy and Paste Revealed a Trove of Data
The leak wasn’t the result of a sophisticated hack or an inside whistleblower. Instead, it was a simple formatting mistake in a public document. SEGA SAMMY published its 2025 Management Meeting presentation, and on page 25, a grey box concealed detailed sales information.
Sharp-eyed readers discovered that the text underneath the box was still active. By highlighting the area and using a simple copy-paste command, anyone could view the sales data for 12 major titles. The information quickly spread across social media platforms like Reddit and ResetEra, with gaming journalists and analysts picking up the story. SEGA has not yet officially commented on the gaffe.
Persona and Yakuza are Dominating the Sales Charts
The data confirms that franchises from ATLUS and RGG Studio are major growth drivers for SEGA. Persona 5 Royal stands out as a massive success, having sold a total of 7.25 million units. Its sales saw a significant spike in recent fiscal years, largely due to its re-release on modern consoles.
Newer titles are also showing incredible strength. The recently launched Persona 3 Reload has already sold 2.07 million copies. Meanwhile, the Yakuza series continues its upward trend, with Yakuza: Like a Dragon reaching 2.86 million units sold over its lifetime. Its successor, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, is also off to a hot start.
- The game sold 1.18 million units in fiscal year 2024.
- It added another 480,000 units in fiscal year 2025.
- Its total of 1.66 million already surpasses the 960,000 units sold by its predecessor, Like a Dragon Gaiden.
This strong performance highlights the success of the series’ shift to turn-based RPG gameplay and its growing international appeal.
A Closer Look at Sonic’s Performance
SEGA’s iconic mascot, Sonic the Hedgehog, delivered mixed but generally positive results. Sonic Frontiers is the top performer in the leaked data, with 4.57 million units sold. However, most of those sales occurred in its launch year, suggesting its initial momentum slowed down over time.
In contrast, Sonic Superstars sold 2.43 million units with a slower, more gradual sales curve. Perhaps the most surprising entry is Team Sonic Racing. Despite being an older title, it has shown remarkable staying power, quietly accumulating 3.5 million sales. This indicates a consistent and loyal audience for the blue blur, even if not every title is a blockbuster hit.
Total War’s Steady and Profitable March
The Creative Assembly’s Total War series may not generate the same headlines as Persona or Sonic, but the leaked figures confirm it remains a quietly profitable cornerstone for SEGA on PC. The data provides a clear breakdown of sales for two of its major titles over several fiscal years.
| Title | FY2020 | FY2021 | FY2022 | FY2023 | FY2024 | FY2025 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total War: Three Kingdoms | 2.1m | 410k | 230k | 230k | 170k | 70k | 3.21m |
| Total War: Warhammer III | 0 | 0 | 960k | 580k | 420k | 380k | 2.34m |
While Total War: Three Kingdoms sales have tapered off, Total War: Warhammer III continues to sell hundreds of thousands of copies each year. This demonstrates the long-tail profitability of strategy games on PC. Although the initial sales rush is important, these titles continue to attract new players long after their release.
Frequently Asked Questions about the SEGA Sales Leak
What was the biggest surprise from the SEGA leak?
The biggest surprise was the massive success of Persona 5 Royal, which has sold 7.25 million units. This figure solidifies its status as one of SEGA’s most successful modern titles and proves the effectiveness of ATLUS’s remaster strategy.
How did the SEGA sales numbers leak?
The numbers leaked due to a simple error in a PDF file from a SEGA SAMMY management meeting. Text containing the sales data was hidden behind a grey box but was not removed, allowing anyone to copy and paste it.
Which Sonic game sold the most according to the data?
According to the leaked report, Sonic Frontiers sold the most among the listed titles with 4.57 million units. However, the older game Team Sonic Racing showed surprising longevity with 3.5 million units sold over a longer period.
Are the leaked sales numbers good or bad for SEGA?
Overall, the numbers are very good for SEGA. They show strong momentum for key franchises like Persona and Yakuza, demonstrate the continued profitability of series like Total War, and confirm that Sonic still has a large and dedicated audience.
