Microsoft Games Dominate PS5 Sales Charts with Oblivion, Minecraft, Forza Horizon 5

Microsoft’s multiplatform approach is yielding strong results, with successful launches on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, and PC.

Sony’s PlayStation blog post highlighted the top-selling PlayStation Store titles for April 2025.

In the U.S. and Canada, Microsoft games claimed the top three spots on PS5’s non-free-to-play download chart: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, Minecraft, and Forza Horizon 5.

In Europe, the ranking mirrored this success, with Forza Horizon 5 leading, followed by The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, and then Minecraft.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, supported by Microsoft through a day-one Game Pass release and featured in Xbox showcase events, also ranked highly on both charts.

Microsoft-owned studios contributed further, with Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 from Activision and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle from Bethesda appearing prominently in the charts.

What does this reveal? Quality games, regardless of their publisher, dominate sales charts. This is expected, as is the strong performance of these titles on PlayStation. The PS5 audience eagerly awaited Forza Horizon 5, Playground’s acclaimed racer, for its April debut. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered satisfies fans’ demand for Bethesda’s signature style across platforms, while Minecraft’s enduring popularity has surged further with the viral success of the Minecraft movie.

This multiplatform strategy is now standard for Microsoft, which recently announced Gears of War: Reloaded for PC, Xbox, and PlayStation in August. It seems likely that Halo, once Xbox’s cornerstone exclusive, will follow suit.

Last year, Microsoft gaming CEO Phil Spencer told Bloomberg there are no untouchable titles in Xbox’s lineup when considering multiplatform releases, including Halo. “I don’t see any red lines in our portfolio that say ‘this cannot happen,’” he stated.

Spencer emphasized that Xbox’s multiplatform strategy aims to boost revenue for Microsoft’s gaming division, especially after the $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard.

“We’re running a business,” Spencer noted in August. “Microsoft sets a high bar for our delivery, given the incredible support we receive. We focus on strengthening our games and growing our platform across console, PC, and cloud.”

Former Xbox executive Peter Moore told IGN last year that discussions about bringing Halo to PlayStation have likely been ongoing at Microsoft.

“If Microsoft sees $250 million from its own platforms but projects a billion by taking Halo multiplatform, that’s a tough decision to ignore,” Moore said.

“Halo is more than a game; it’s a major intellectual property. The question is how to maximize its value across all avenues.”

“Xbox’s identity is tied to Halo, but those conversations are happening. Whether they materialize is uncertain, but they’re definitely taking place.”

Microsoft risks pushback from dedicated Xbox fans frustrated by the perceived dilution of Xbox’s console value, lack of exclusives, and the company’s gaming marketing approach. Releasing Halo on PlayStation could intensify this reaction, but Moore told IGN that Microsoft prioritizes business strategy over fan sentiment.

“Will that backlash outweigh a critical business decision for Microsoft’s gaming future?” Moore asked. “The hardcore fanbase is shrinking and aging. You have to focus on the newer generations driving the industry forward over the next decade or two.”