Katarzyna Petru
Do you remember the online storms and heated discussions when Microsoft announced its departure from hard exclusivity? Back then, many fans predicted the end of the Xbox brand, the dilution of its identity, and capitulation to the competition. Today in Redmond, they're likely popping champagne. The numbers are ruthless and say one thing – Phil Spencer's decision was a pure business masterstroke.
The end of conflicts, the beginning of money
The Alinea Analytics report ruthlessly exposes the real effects of Microsoft's new strategy. Rhys Elliot, head of market analysis, published specific data that cools the emotions of even the most ardent defenders of "closed ecosystems." The conclusions are simple – multiplatforming simply pays off.
Forza Horizon 5, the hit from Playground Games, has sold over 5 million copies on PlayStation 5. Let's remember – the game debuted in 2021 on Xbox and PC, and only made its way to Sony's console in spring 2025. Theoretically a "reheated cutlet." In practice – an absolute bestseller.
300 million dollars that were on the table
Five million copies means revenue of around 300 million dollars. Cash that went directly into Microsoft's coffers. The company would never have seen this money if it had stubbornly stuck to its old philosophy of exclusivity. The PlayStation market turned out to be just too big to ignore. Players weren’t interested that the title was already a few years old. What mattered was the quality, the scale, and the fact that a proper, high-budget open-world racing game finally appeared on the PS5.
PlayStation needed Forza
The success of Forza Horizon 5 has exposed a significant gap in the PlayStation library. For years, Sony has lacked an equivalent to open-world arcade racing on such a scale. It’s no surprise then that players jumped at Microsoft’s offering almost immediately.
Data from the USA, Canada, and the UK shows record-breaking pre-order numbers. Within just a month of its debut on PS5, the game had found 2 million buyers. For most titles, that’s a figure unattainable even over an entire lifecycle. Importantly, Forza Horizon 5 was available exclusively in digital format. No boxes, no collector’s editions. This further highlights the significance of this achievement.
Five-year-old game better than new releases
The sales figures from July are even more interesting. The five-year-old Forza Horizon 5 has managed to outpace fresh releases and performed better than new entries in franchises like Assassin’s Creed and Monster Hunter Wilds. This is no longer a curiosity – it’s a market phenomenon.
More and more Xbox on PlayStation
The $300 million silences critics of Microsoft's new strategy. The company is not only making money but also reinforcing the belief that it has chosen the right direction. We already know that Avowed from Obsidian will launch on PS5 next month. This is almost certainly just the beginning of a larger offensive.
In the corridors, there are increasing whispers about Fable, which according to rumours may debut simultaneously on Xbox and PlayStation. More details will be revealed during the Xbox Developer Direct scheduled for January 22. The current course seems irreversible.
Japan can wait, but not forever
Forza Horizon 6 is set to take players to the fan-dreamed Japan. Everything indicates that the release will not happen simultaneously on PS5, but few doubt a later port. Microsoft is unlikely to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs – especially when the current edition is still generating absurd profits on the competitor's platform. Players from the Sony camp will once again have to arm themselves with patience.
Did you know that…
Forza Horizon 5 needed only 8 days from its release on PlayStation to sell 1.4 million copies. Thus, it became the fastest-selling Xbox game on the Sony platform, outperforming all previous ports.
