In a move that underscores the shifting landscape of platform exclusivity, Forza Horizon 5 has surged to impressive heights on the PlayStation 5, racking up approximately 1.2 million unit sales in just one week, according to analytics firm Alinea Analytics. Released on 29th April with a short premium early access window, the nearly four-year-old title has defied expectations — and conventional console rivalry — by finding a strong audience on a competing platform.
An Unlikely Yet Perfect Match
The success of Forza Horizon 5 on PS5 might seem surprising at first, but dig deeper, and it makes sense. The PlayStation ecosystem has long been short on arcade racing games, a genre that enjoys widespread popularity, particularly in European markets. With Gran Turismo catering more to simulation fans, Forza’s vibrant, open-world arcade approach filled a glaring void in PlayStation’s current lineup.
Fans hungry for high-speed thrills have evidently responded. Despite its age and prior availability on Xbox and PC, the PS5 version launched at full price and still managed to break into PlayStation’s top sales charts — a testament to the game’s enduring appeal and the hunger for arcade racers on the platform.
Microsoft’s Multiplatform Strategy: A Growing Success
The move is part of Microsoft’s broader and increasingly bold multiformat release strategy. With titles like Hi-Fi Rush, Pentiment, and Sea of Thieves already making their way to rival consoles, Microsoft appears to be doubling down on content monetization rather than keeping IPs tightly bound to Xbox hardware.
According to Alinea Analytics, Microsoft’s bet is paying off. Notably, the firm’s previous analysis revealed that Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is selling faster on PS5 than on Xbox — a surprising twist that speaks volumes about the effectiveness of this new approach. While Game Pass undoubtedly affects sales velocity on Xbox platforms, the higher sticker price on PS5 isn’t discouraging buyers, particularly when the content is this good.
Forza’s Triumph Signals a Genre Revival?
The roaring success of Forza Horizon 5 on PS5 could be more than a one-off. It might signal a potential resurgence of the arcade racing genre, long overshadowed by shooters and action-RPGs. With mainstream publishers increasingly exploring multiplatform options, and gamers showing a willingness to pay premium prices for high-quality legacy titles, we may well see a renaissance of genre experimentation across consoles.
For Sony, the message is clear: there’s an untapped demand for vibrant, accessible racing experiences. For Microsoft, it’s validation that great games don’t need to be exclusive to generate buzz — or profit.
What’s Next?
As more Xbox exclusives trickle onto PlayStation platforms, the traditional lines of console competition continue to blur. With strong sales data to back up the shift, Microsoft might accelerate its cross-platform efforts further. The early success of Forza Horizon 5 on PS5 could open the door for other franchises — perhaps even Halo or Gears of War — to explore new fan bases.
In the meantime, Forza Horizon 5’s lap around the PS5 track is off to a blistering start — and it’s showing no signs of slowing down.
