Microsoft's multiplatform strategy is clearly paying dividends, as evidenced by its successful launches on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, and PC. Sony's PlayStation blog post for April 2025 highlights the top-selling games on the PlayStation Store, where Microsoft titles dominated the non-free-to-play download chart in both the U.S./Canada and Europe.
In the U.S. and Canada, the top three spots on the PS5 chart were occupied by Microsoft games: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, Minecraft, and Forza Horizon 5. Similarly, in Europe, Forza Horizon 5 led the pack, followed by The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered and Minecraft.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, backed by Microsoft for a day-one Game Pass launch and featured in Xbox showcases, also ranked high on both charts. Additionally, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 from Microsoft-owned Activision and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle from Microsoft-owned Bethesda made significant appearances.
The success of these games underscores a simple truth: quality games, regardless of their origin, will top the sales charts. It's no surprise that these titles have performed well on PlayStation, with Forza Horizon 5 fulfilling the PS5's need for a standout racing game, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered satisfying Bethesda fans across platforms, and Minecraft continuing to thrive, especially with the buzz around its record-breaking movie.
This trend marks a new era for Microsoft, as evidenced by the recent announcement of Gears of War: Reloaded for PC, Xbox, and PlayStation in August. It seems increasingly likely that Halo, once an Xbox exclusive, will follow suit.
Last year, Microsoft's gaming chief Phil Spencer emphasized that no "red lines" exist within its first-party lineup regarding multiplatform releases, including Halo. In an interview with Bloomberg, Spencer stated, "I do not see sort of red lines in our portfolio that say 'thou must not,'" indicating that all Xbox games are potential candidates for multiplatform distribution. Spencer's comments reflect a strategic push to boost revenue for Microsoft's gaming division, especially after the massive $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
Spencer highlighted the business perspective, saying, "We run a business," and acknowledged the high expectations within Microsoft for the gaming division's performance. He added, "So I look at this, how can we make our games as strong as possible? Our platform continues to grow, on console, on PC, and on cloud. It's just going to be a strategy that works for us."
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Former Xbox executive Peter Moore told IGN that discussions about bringing Halo to PlayStation have likely been ongoing at Microsoft. Moore pointed out the potential financial benefits, stating, "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?" He emphasized the broader value of Halo as intellectual property beyond just a game.
Moore also acknowledged the potential backlash from hardcore Xbox fans but suggested that Microsoft would not let such reactions deter them from making strategic business decisions. He noted, "The question would be, ultimately, is that reaction enough not to make a fundamental business decision for the future of not only Microsoft's business, but gaming in itself? 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."
