Forza Horizon 5 on PS5: A Landmark Xbox Crossover Hit
For years, Forza Horizon was shorthand for “reasons to own an Xbox.” That logic crumbled when Microsoft brought Forza Horizon 5 to PS5 as part of its third-party publishing push. The result: a breakout success that shows how powerful Xbox games on PS5 can be. Porting studio Virtuos confirms the open-world racer has surpassed five million sales on Sony’s console alone, all through digital downloads and nearly five years after the game first launched. Analyst estimates previously pegged it at over three million copies sold on PS5 within three months, and Virtuos now says those sales make it one of PS5’s best‑selling games in 2025. The same page notes the team handled the bulk of the series’ car modeling work and also optimized Forza Horizon 4 for Xbox Series X|S, underscoring how closely Xbox and external partners now collaborate on multi-platform releases.
Kiln and the New Normal of Xbox Games on PS5
Forza is not an isolated case. Kiln, a quirky online party brawler from Double Fine Productions and published under Xbox Game Studios, has just launched on the PS5 PlayStation Store, further normalizing the Xbox–PlayStation crossover. In Kiln, players sculpt their own ceramic fighters on a pottery wheel, then bring those fragile creations into arena battles to smash opponents and douse the rival team’s kiln. The game arrives in two editions: a Standard version at USD 19.99 (approx. RM95) and a Fired Up Edition at USD 29.99 (approx. RM140) that adds cosmetic glazes, stickers, attachments, and special golden pottery variants. Kiln was revealed during the 2026 Xbox Developer Direct alongside Forza Horizon 6 and Beast of Reincarnation, both of which are also slated for PS5 later this year. Bit by bit, Xbox Game Studios is building a substantial catalogue on Sony’s hardware.
Xbox’s Mixed Messages on Exclusivity and Player Confusion
Amid this wave of Xbox games on PS5, the platform’s new CEO Asha Sharma has thrown a curveball. In a company-wide memo, Sharma and Xbox content boss Matt Booty said they will “reevaluate” the brand’s approach to exclusivity, windowing, and AI. No concrete plan was given, but the language was enough to reignite debates about which franchises will stay locked to each console. This follows two years of Xbox titles, including Sea of Thieves, Forza Horizon, and Gears of War, expanding to rival platforms, and high-profile announcements that future Halo releases would land on PlayStation. Starfield’s recent PS5 debut and upcoming PS5 versions of Forza Horizon 6 and the Halo: Combat Evolved remake seemed to confirm a new, open strategy. Now, with Gears of War: E-Day still only announced for Xbox and PC, players are left guessing whether Xbox’s biggest games will truly be everywhere or snap back behind a green wall.
PlayStation’s Chart Dominance While Hosting Rival Hits
Sony, meanwhile, is thriving even as it welcomes some of its rival’s biggest brands. Recent Circana sales data shows Sony Interactive Entertainment with five games in the US top 20 best-sellers for March, more than other major platform holders. MLB The Show 26 topped the chart by revenue, while Bungie’s new shooter Marathon landed at #4, with Ghost of Yotei, Helldivers 2, and Death Stranding 2: On the Beach also charting. Some titles benefited from discounts, and Death Stranding 2’s placement reflects its PC launch as well, but the takeaway is clear: PlayStation’s first-party and associated catalogue is strong enough that sharing shelf space with Forza or Halo is not a threat. Instead, Sony can double down on its own hits, timed discounts, and growing PC ports, while PlayStation Plus remains a powerful lever to keep players engaged, regardless of how many Xbox-published games show up on PS5.
What Cross-Platform Means for Console Choices and Future Franchises
With Forza Horizon 5’s PS5 success and games like Kiln arriving day-and-date on Sony’s console, the old PS5 vs Xbox games narrative no longer fits. For players, cross-platform releases reduce fear of missing out and expand libraries without forcing two console purchases. But they also make hardware decisions murkier: if Halo, Forza, and possibly even future Gears of War entries appear on PS5, is there still a compelling reason to stay loyal to a single ecosystem? Microsoft’s willingness to “reevaluate” exclusivity keeps the door open for heavyweight franchises, from Gears of War: E-Day to future spin-offs, to eventually reach PlayStation. Sony’s likely response will be to keep sharpening its advantages—blockbuster first-party titles, more aggressive PC support, and PS Plus perks that tie players into its services. The console war is not ending; it is quietly shifting from hardware bragging rights to ecosystem value and where, not whether, you can play everything.
