PS5's top-selling title of the year, surprisingly, comes from Xbox. Its sales figure roughly doubles that of PlayStation-exclusive Death Stranding 2 within the same timeframe, and even surpasses the anticipated Game of the Year for 2024.
**Forza Horizon 5 Outpaces PlayStation 5 Exclusives in 2025 Sales**
In an unexpected turn of events, Forza Horizon 5, an open-world multiplayer racer initially launched on Xbox, has surpassed several PlayStation 5 exclusives in sales this year.
Key reasons for this success include a late but strong debut on PS5, aggressive pricing, cross-platform appeal, and Microsoft's evolving strategy towards third-party games.
Forza Horizon 5 launched on PS5 in late April 2025, nearly four years after its original release. Despite the delay, it sold 2 million copies in the first 25 days on PS5 alone, doubling Death Stranding 2's 1 million copies sold during the same period. A significant recent sale discount of 25% off, bringing the price down to $45, helped push Forza Horizon 5 past 3 million copies sold on PS5, making it the best-selling new PS5 game of 2025.
The game's cross-platform success and large existing player base are also significant factors. Forza Horizon 5 has sold 6.5 million copies on Steam and has been played by 45.5 million people on Xbox consoles (mostly through Xbox Game Pass). This long-established fanbase and proven game quality contribute to high confidence and demand on PS5.
Microsoft's strategy towards Forza titles has also shifted, with games like Forza Horizon 5 becoming available on multiple platforms, including PlayStation. The success of Forza Horizon 5 on PS5 suggests that future installments like Forza Horizon 6 are expected to launch day one on PS5 as well, expanding their reach further.
The appeal of the genre and gameplay also plays a role. Forza Horizon 5's open-world racing experience is widely popular and accessible, potentially attracting a broader audience on PS5 compared to some niche or narrative-driven exclusives.
Meanwhile, the PlayStation 5 console is noted for its catalog of AAA exclusive titles like God of War Ragnarok and The Last of Us. Other notable exclusives, such as Death Stranding 2 and Astro Bot, have also seen success, with Death Stranding 2: On the Beach selling 1 million units on PS5 and Astro Bot expected to hit 3 million units sold "by the end of the summer."
Monster Hunter Wilds, another exclusive, has sold 6.2 million copies on Steam, making its PC version a success for Capcom. However, it trails behind Forza Horizon 5 on PS5, with 2.9 million units sold, making it the second best-selling PS5 game this year.
Sea of Thieves and Elden Ring Nightreign have also found their place on the PS5 platform, with Sea of Thieves selling 2 million copies and Elden Ring Nightreign selling 1.4 million units.
In conclusion, Forza Horizon 5's success on PS5 can be attributed to a strong late arrival on the platform, aggressive pricing, established popularity across platforms, and cross-platform availability. This pattern is likely to continue with future installments, potentially making Forza Horizon 5 a formidable competitor in the world of PlayStation exclusives.
- The success of Forza Horizon 5 on PlayStation 5 suggests that future installments like Forza Horizon 6 may also launch day one on PS5, thanks to Microsoft's evolving strategy towards third-party games.
- The appeal of Forza Horizon 5's open-world racing experience and its popularity across platforms, such as Steam and Xbox consoles, could potentially attract a broader audience on PS5.
- In response to Forza Horizon 5's sales figures, Microsoft is expected to consider developing more Xbox Game Studio titles for platforms like the PS5.
- With Forza Horizon 5 ranking as the best-selling new PS5 game of 2025, gamers on the platform may look forward to running the game on a powerful gaming laptop, optimized for smooth gaming performance.
- As Forza Horizon 5 continues to dominate sales charts, software developers may take inspiration from its strategic pricing strategies for future game launches across multiple platforms.
- In entertainment industry news, the success of Forza Horizon 5 on PS5 coincides with a rise in interest for sports games, as fans seek out new virtual experiences to enjoy while watching live games on their PC.
- In addition to the unprecedented sales of Forza Horizon 5, Microsoft has announced updates to the Xbox Series X and Windows operating systems, promising enhanced gaming experiences for users on both platforms.
