Xbox Games Outshine PS5: Oblivion, Minecraft, Forza Lead Sales

Microsoft's multiplatform strategy is evidently successful, as demonstrated by their 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 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. Europe saw a similar trend, with Forza Horizon 5 leading, followed by The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered and Minecraft.

Microsoft's influence extends beyond these titles. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, backed by Microsoft for a day-one Game Pass release and featured in Xbox showcases, 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 prominently.

This success underscores a clear message: quality games, regardless of their origin, will dominate sales charts. 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 signature experience, while Minecraft saw a surge in popularity, boosted by the viral success of its movie.

Microsoft's multiplatform approach is becoming the standard, as evidenced by their recent announcement of Gears of War: Reloaded for PC, Xbox, and PlayStation in August. The future seems poised for even more iconic Xbox titles, such as Halo, to follow suit.

Phil Spencer, Microsoft's gaming chief, emphasized in a Bloomberg interview last year that there are no "red lines" preventing their first-party titles from going multiplatform, including Halo. Spencer's strategy is driven by the need to generate more revenue for Microsoft's gaming division, especially after the $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard. "We run a business," Spencer stated in August, highlighting the high expectations within Microsoft and the necessity to leverage their platform's growth across consoles, PCs, and cloud services.

Former Xbox executive Peter Moore told IGN that the potential of bringing Halo to PlayStation has been a topic of discussion at Microsoft. Moore noted that while Halo is a crucial part of Xbox's identity, the business decision to expand its reach could be justified if it significantly increases revenue. He acknowledged the potential backlash from hardcore Xbox fans but emphasized that Microsoft must consider the long-term future of gaming and cater to newer generations that will drive the industry forward.