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

Microsoft's multiplatform strategy is evidently successful, as demonstrated by its strong performance on the PlayStation 5 alongside Xbox Series X and S and PC. Sony's PlayStation blog post for April 2025 highlights the dominance of Microsoft titles in the top-selling games on the PlayStation Store.

In the U.S. and Canada, Microsoft's games secured 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. A similar trend was observed in Europe, with Forza Horizon 5 leading, 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 prominently in the charts.

This success underscores a clear message: quality games, regardless of their origin, dominate sales charts. It's no surprise to see these titles perform well on PlayStation, especially with the PS5 eagerly awaiting a game like Forza Horizon 5. The launch of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered satisfies the demand for Bethesda's offerings across platforms, while Minecraft continues to thrive, boosted by the viral success of the Minecraft movie.

[ttpp]Microsoft's new normal includes expanding its reach, as evidenced by the announcement of Gears of War: Reloaded for PC, Xbox, and PlayStation in August. The potential for Halo to follow suit seems increasingly likely.

Last year, Microsoft's gaming chief Phil Spencer emphasized that there are 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 highlighted the financial motivations behind this strategy, especially following the $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard.

"We run a business," Spencer remarked 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, speaking to IGN, suggested that discussions about bringing Halo to PlayStation have been ongoing at Microsoft. He noted the potential for significant revenue increases by expanding Halo to other platforms, despite its iconic status within the Xbox ecosystem.

"Look, if Microsoft says, wait, we're doing $250 million on our own platforms, but if we then took Halo as, let's call it a third-party, we could do a billion… You got to think long and hard about that, right?" Moore explained. He acknowledged the importance of Halo to Xbox's identity but emphasized the need to leverage intellectual property for broader business benefits.

Microsoft faces potential backlash from hardcore Xbox fans who feel the console's value is diminishing due to fewer exclusives and shifts in marketing strategy. However, Moore believes that Microsoft will prioritize business decisions that cater to future generations of gamers, even if it means risking the ire of its core fanbase.

"The question would be, ultimately, is that reaction enough not to make a fundamental business decision for the future of not only Microsoft's business, but gaming in itself?" Moore questioned. "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."