Forza Horizon 5, a title that was born as an Xbox and PC exclusive, reached a new milestone after surpassing 5 million units sold on PlayStation 5. This performance caused estimated revenue of more than 300 million dollars for Microsoft and strongly validated the multiplatform strategy that has been promoted since 2024. The result not only surprised the market, but also made it clear that opening up to other consoles can be more profitable than maintaining rigid exclusivities.
The release of the title on PS5 took place in April 2025, almost four years after its original debut. However, this did not affect the public's enthusiasm: the game quickly positioned itself among the best sellers on the platform and demonstrated that there is real demand for franchises that have historically been associated with Xbox. In a context where competition between consoles is increasingly fierce, the expanded availability allowed Microsoft to capture direct revenue from a new audience without compromising Xbox's installed base.
Direct sales vs overall reach: two models that coexist
Unlike the figures reported through the Xbox and PC ecosystem —where Forza Horizon 5 reached more than 53 million players by combining Game Pass and direct purchases— the PS5 numbers represent a more precise measurement of the commercial performance of the game. While the Game Pass service provides volume and exposure, traditional sales offer concrete and measurable revenue.
The comparison between both models leads to a clear conclusion: the PS5 version not only expanded the title's reach, but also caused a revenue stream that Game Pass, due to its subscription-based nature, can't immediately replicate. This difference reinforces the logic behind Microsoft's strategic shift starting in 2024: opening its catalog to other consoles guarantees direct monetization without relying exclusively on its own platform.
