"Xbox Titles Outperform PS5: Oblivion, Minecraft, Forza Lead Sales"

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

In the U.S. and Canada, Microsoft games dominated 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 claimed these positions, demonstrating the broad appeal of these titles. Similarly, in Europe, Forza Horizon 5 led the chart, followed by The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered and Minecraft.

Notably, 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, further bolstered Microsoft's presence in the charts.

This trend illustrates a simple truth: quality games from Microsoft or other developers are topping the sales charts, which is not surprising. The PlayStation 5 community eagerly awaited Forza Horizon 5, a standout racer from Playground Games, and its April launch on the console was met with high anticipation. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered satisfies the demand for Bethesda's immersive worlds across PC and console, while Minecraft continues to thrive, especially with the viral success of the Minecraft movie.

This multiplatform approach is becoming the norm for Microsoft, as evidenced by the recent announcement of 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 are no "red lines" in their first-party lineup when considering multiplatform releases, including Halo. In an interview with Bloomberg, Spencer stated that every Xbox game is a candidate for multiplatform distribution, reflecting Microsoft's strategy to maximize revenue, particularly after the massive $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard.

Spencer articulated the business-driven nature of these decisions, highlighting the need to deliver strong returns to Microsoft. He views the multiplatform strategy as essential for strengthening their games and expanding their platform across console, PC, and cloud services.

Former Xbox executive Peter Moore, in an interview with IGN, noted that the potential of bringing Halo to PlayStation would have been a long-standing topic at Microsoft. He pointed out the significant revenue increase that could be achieved by expanding Halo's reach, suggesting that such a move would be a strategic decision to leverage this iconic intellectual property.

Despite potential backlash from dedicated Xbox fans who may feel that the brand's value is being diminished by a lack of exclusives and Microsoft's marketing approach, Moore believes Microsoft will prioritize business decisions that benefit the future of gaming. He emphasized the need to cater to new generations of gamers, who will drive the industry forward in the coming decades.