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

Microsoft's multiplatform strategy is clearly paying dividends, as evidenced by their successful launches on PlayStation 5, alongside Xbox Series X and S, and PC. Sony's own PlayStation blog post for April 2025 highlights the top-selling games on the PlayStation Store, with Microsoft titles dominating the charts in both the U.S./Canada and Europe.

In the U.S. and Canada, the top three non-free-to-play downloads on PS5 were all Microsoft games: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, Minecraft, and Forza Horizon 5. Europe saw a similar trend, with Forza Horizon 5 leading, followed by The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered and Minecraft.

Microsoft's strategic moves extend beyond these titles. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, backed by Microsoft for a day-one Game Pass release and featured in Xbox showcases, also performed well 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, made strong showings.

This success underscores a simple truth: quality games, regardless of their origin, tend to top the sales charts. It's no surprise to see these titles perform well on PlayStation, especially given the anticipation around Forza Horizon 5, a standout racer from Playground Games, and The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, which satisfies the demand for Bethesda's immersive worlds. Minecraft continues to captivate audiences, bolstered by the viral success of its movie.

Microsoft's commitment to a multiplatform approach is now the norm, as evidenced by their recent announcement of Gears of War: Reloaded for PC, Xbox, and PlayStation, set to release in August. The iconic Halo franchise, once an Xbox exclusive, seems poised to follow suit.

Phil Spencer, Microsoft's gaming chief, emphasized this strategy last year, stating there are no "red lines" in their first-party lineup when it comes to going multiplatform, including Halo. Speaking to Bloomberg, Spencer highlighted the need to maximize the potential of every Xbox game across platforms to boost Microsoft's gaming revenue, especially after the $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard.

"We run a business," Spencer said in August. "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. Because we get a level of support from the company that's just amazing and what we're able to go do. So I look at this, how can we make our games as strong as possible? Our platform continues to grow, on console, on PC, and on cloud. It's just going to be a strategy that works for us."

Former Xbox executive Peter Moore told IGN that discussions about bringing Halo to PlayStation have likely been ongoing at Microsoft. He emphasized the potential financial benefits, suggesting that expanding Halo to other platforms could significantly increase revenue. Moore acknowledged the iconic status of Halo within Xbox's history but noted that business decisions must consider broader market trends and future growth.

Microsoft's multiplatform push may face resistance from hardcore Xbox fans, who feel the brand is being devalued by a lack of exclusives and changes in marketing strategy. However, Moore suggested that Microsoft will prioritize business decisions that secure its future in gaming, even if it means facing backlash from a diminishing and aging core audience. As new generations of gamers emerge, Microsoft aims to cater to them, ensuring the company's long-term success in the gaming industry.