"Xbox Hits: Oblivion Remastered, Minecraft, Forza Outsell PS5 Games"

Microsoft's multiplatform strategy is evidently proving successful, as demonstrated by their strong performance on the PlayStation 5, in addition to their traditional platforms such as Xbox Series X and S, and PC. Sony's own PlayStation blog post on the top-selling games for April 2025 underscores this trend.

In the U.S. and Canada, the top three non-free-to-play downloads on PS5 were dominated by Microsoft titles: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, Minecraft, and Forza Horizon 5. A similar pattern was observed in Europe, with Forza Horizon 5 leading the chart, followed by The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered and Minecraft.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, backed by Microsoft through a day-one Game Pass release and featured in Xbox showcase broadcasts, also ranked highly on both regional charts. Additionally, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 from Microsoft-owned Activision and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle from Microsoft-owned Bethesda were notable entries in the charts.

These results highlight a clear trend: quality games from Microsoft are topping sales charts across platforms. This comes as no surprise, given the anticipation surrounding the release of Forza Horizon 5 on PS5, catering to the demand for a top-tier racing experience. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered continues to satisfy fans' cravings for Bethesda's immersive worlds, while Minecraft remains a perennial favorite, further boosted by the viral success of the Minecraft movie.

This trend is becoming the new normal for Microsoft, evidenced by the recent announcement of Gears of War: Reloaded set to launch on PC, Xbox, and PlayStation in August. The possibility of Halo, once an Xbox exclusive, making the jump to other platforms seems increasingly likely.

Microsoft's gaming chief, Phil Spencer, emphasized last year that there are no "red lines" preventing any of their first-party titles from going multiplatform, including Halo. In a conversation with Bloomberg, Spencer indicated that every Xbox game is considered for multiplatform release, stating, "I do not see sort of red lines in our portfolio that say 'thou must not,'".

Spencer's comments reflect Microsoft's broader strategy to maximize revenue within their gaming division, particularly following the significant $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard. He noted, "We run a business," and highlighted the pressure to deliver results for Microsoft, stating, "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."

Former Xbox executive Peter Moore, speaking to IGN, confirmed that discussions about bringing Halo to PlayStation have likely been ongoing at Microsoft. He pointed out the potential financial benefits, saying, "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 acknowledged the significance of Halo to the Xbox brand but emphasized the need to consider broader business implications, "It's a piece of intellectual property. It's bigger than just a game. And how do you leverage that?" He also noted the potential backlash from hardcore Xbox fans but suggested that Microsoft must prioritize long-term business decisions, "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."