Xbox Games Outsell PS5: Oblivion, Minecraft, Forza Lead

Microsoft's multiplatform strategy is clearly yielding impressive results, as evidenced by their successful launches on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, and PC. Sony's PlayStation blog post detailing the top-selling PlayStation Store games for April 2025 confirms this trend.

In the U.S. and Canada, Microsoft games dominated the PS5's non-free-to-play download chart, securing the top three spots with The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, Minecraft, and Forza Horizon 5. A similar pattern emerged in Europe, where Forza Horizon 5 led the chart, followed by The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered and Minecraft.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, backed by Microsoft for a day-one Game Pass launch and featured in Xbox showcase broadcasts, also ranked high 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 significant appearances on the charts.

This success underscores a simple truth: quality games, regardless of their origin, tend to dominate sales charts. It's no surprise to see these titles perform well on PlayStation, especially given the PS5's demand for a game like Playground's exceptional racer, Forza Horizon 5. The April launch on the console was eagerly anticipated. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered satisfies the Bethesda craving across PC and console, while Minecraft's popularity continues to soar, boosted by the viral success of the Minecraft movie.

This trend represents the new normal for Microsoft, which recently announced Gears of War: Reloaded for PC, Xbox, and PlayStation, set to release in August. It seems increasingly likely that Halo, once an Xbox exclusive, will also transition to other platforms.

Last year, Microsoft’s gaming chief Phil Spencer emphasized that there were no "red lines" in their first-party lineup regarding multiplatform releases, including Halo. In an interview with Bloomberg, Spencer stated that every Xbox game is considered for multiplatform distribution. He explained that Microsoft's multiplatform strategy is partly driven by the need to increase revenue, especially following the $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard.

Spencer reiterated the business perspective in August, noting the high expectations within Microsoft for their gaming division to deliver results. He sees multiplatform releases as a way to strengthen their games and expand their platform across consoles, PCs, and cloud services.

As former Xbox executive Peter Moore told IGN, the potential for Halo to reach PlayStation has likely been a topic of discussion at Microsoft for some time. Moore suggested that if Halo could generate significantly more revenue on other platforms, the decision would be compelling. He emphasized that Halo is more than just a game; it's a valuable piece of intellectual property that Microsoft must consider leveraging across all possible avenues.

While Microsoft's strategy might provoke backlash from hardcore Xbox fans who feel the console's value and exclusivity are being undermined, Moore believes this won't deter Microsoft from making strategic business decisions. He pointed out that the gaming industry's future depends on catering to new generations of gamers, who will drive the business forward over the next decade and beyond.