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

Microsoft's multiplatform strategy is clearly paying dividends, as evidenced 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 highlights this success, showcasing the top-selling games on the PlayStation Store.

In the U.S. and Canada, Microsoft titles dominated the PS5's non-free-to-play download chart, with The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, Minecraft, and Forza Horizon 5 securing the top three spots. Europe saw a similar trend, with Forza Horizon 5 leading, 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 continents. Additionally, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 from Microsoft-owned Activision and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle from Microsoft-owned Bethesda also made strong showings in the charts.

This data underscores a simple truth: quality games, regardless of their origin, drive sales. It's no surprise that these titles have performed well on PlayStation, given the demand for games like Forza Horizon 5, which has been eagerly awaited on the PS5. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered caters to fans craving Bethesda's signature gameplay across both PC and console, while Minecraft continues to thrive, boosted by the recent success of its movie.

Microsoft's approach to multiplatform releases is now the standard, as demonstrated by the announcement of Gears of War: Reloaded slated for PC, Xbox, and PlayStation in August. It seems only a matter of time before iconic Xbox exclusives like Halo follow suit.

Phil Spencer, Microsoft's gaming chief, has made it clear that there are no "red lines" preventing any first-party titles, including Halo, from going multiplatform. In an interview with Bloomberg, Spencer emphasized that every Xbox game is considered for multiplatform release, driven by the need to maximize revenue, especially after Microsoft's $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard.

"We run a business," Spencer stated in August, highlighting the pressure to deliver significant returns to Microsoft. He sees multiplatform releases as a way to strengthen games and expand the Xbox platform across consoles, PCs, and cloud services.

Former Xbox executive Peter Moore told IGN that discussions about bringing Halo to PlayStation have likely been ongoing. He noted that if Halo could generate significantly more revenue on PlayStation, Microsoft would have to seriously consider it. "It's a piece of intellectual property. It's bigger than just a game," Moore said, acknowledging the iconic status of Halo within the Xbox ecosystem.

However, Microsoft's move toward multiplatform releases risks alienating hardcore Xbox fans, who have expressed frustration over the perceived devaluation of the Xbox brand, the scarcity of exclusives, and Microsoft's marketing strategies. While bringing Halo to PlayStation might provoke further backlash, Moore believes Microsoft will prioritize business decisions that ensure the future growth of its gaming division.

"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 remarked, pointing out that the gaming industry must cater to newer generations to thrive in the coming decades.