"Xbox Games Outsell PS5 Titles: Oblivion Remastered, Minecraft, Forza Horizon 5 Lead"

Microsoft's multiplatform strategy is proving successful, as evidenced by its strong performance on the PlayStation 5, in addition to Xbox Series X and S and PC. Sony's PlayStation blog post for April 2025 highlighted the top-selling games on the PlayStation Store, showcasing Microsoft's dominance in both the U.S./Canada and Europe.

In the U.S. and Canada, Microsoft games claimed the top three spots on the PS5's non-free-to-play download chart: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, Minecraft, and Forza Horizon 5. Similarly, in Europe, Forza Horizon 5 led the chart, followed by The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered and Minecraft.

[ttpp]Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, backed by Microsoft for a day-one Game Pass launch and featured in Xbox showcase broadcasts, also ranked highly on both charts. Additionally, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 from Microsoft-owned Activision and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle from Microsoft-owned Bethesda appeared in the charts, further demonstrating Microsoft's strong multiplatform presence.

This success underscores the universal appeal of quality games, regardless of their origin. The PS5 community eagerly awaited Forza Horizon 5, a testament to Playground's exceptional racing game. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered satisfied the demand for Bethesda's immersive worlds across both PC and console, while Minecraft continued to thrive, boosted by the viral success of the Minecraft movie.

Microsoft's new normal involves expanding its reach across platforms, as evidenced by the recent announcement of Gears of War: Reloaded for PC, Xbox, and PlayStation in August. This trend suggests that even Halo, once an Xbox exclusive, may eventually make the transition to other platforms.

Microsoft's gaming chief, Phil Spencer, has emphasized that there are no "red lines" in Microsoft's first-party lineup regarding multiplatform releases, including Halo. Speaking to Bloomberg, Spencer indicated that every Xbox game is a candidate for multiplatform release. This approach aims to increase revenue for Microsoft's gaming division, especially after the $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard.

Spencer highlighted the business aspect of their strategy, stating, "We run a business. It’s definitely true inside of Microsoft the bar is high for us in terms of the delivery we have to give back to the company." He views multiplatform releases as a way to strengthen their games and grow their platform across consoles, PCs, and cloud services.

Former Xbox executive Peter Moore told IGN that the potential for Halo on PlayStation has likely been discussed at Microsoft for some time. He suggested that the financial benefits of expanding to other platforms could outweigh keeping Halo exclusive. Moore noted, "It's a piece of intellectual property. It's bigger than just a game. And how do you leverage that?"

Despite potential backlash from hardcore Xbox fans, who feel the console's value is diminishing due to fewer exclusives and Microsoft's marketing strategies, Moore believes Microsoft will prioritize what's best for its business. He stated, "Those hardcore are getting smaller in size and older in age. You've got to cater to the generations that are coming through, because they're going to drive the business over the next 10, 20 years."