Forza Horizon 5 would have sold 1.2 million on PS5, according to estimates

If the arrival of Microsoft games on the PlayStation 5 still causes surprise, the first unofficial data about this move reinforce the immediate commercial impact. According to an estimate from Alinea Analytics, Forza Horizon 5 would have sold approximately 1.2 million copies on the PS5 by May 5, considering the official release on April 29 and early access via the premium edition.

The number is significant for a title originally released in 2021, developed by Playground Games and published by Xbox Game Studios, especially considering that it is being sold at full price in the Sony ecosystem. In comparison, Sea of Thieves — also from Microsoft — took almost a year to reach 1.8 million units sold on the PS5. Meanwhile, Forza Horizon 5 achieves similar numbers in less than a month.

The success can be attributed to the lack of the arcade racing genre in the PlayStation catalog, combined with the strength of the Forza franchise and the interest in high-quality open-world experiences. However, it is important to note that the data is unofficial and that Alinea Analytics has not disclosed the methodology used to obtain the numbers.

The same source also points to an unexpected performance of another multiplatform release from Microsoft: Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. The game is reportedly selling faster on the PS5 than on Xbox, a phenomenon that may be related to the impact of Game Pass, which reduces direct purchases on Microsoft platforms.

Microsoft's expansion strategy beyond Xbox — with selected titles arriving on PlayStation — had already been a subject of debate since the confirmation of the new multiplatform approach. In February 2024, Phil Spencer, head of Xbox division, stated that this new direction aims to expand the reach of the company's intellectual properties and ensure commercial sustainability for high-budget productions.

For now, without official confirmation of the numbers from Microsoft or PlayStation, the data remains as estimates, but indicate a promising opening for Xbox's big studio titles to also find an audience on the competitor's console.