It appears Microsoft’s strategy of extending its major franchises to rival consoles is proving to be a massive financial success. New analysis from Alinea Analytics reveals that the 2021 racing behemoth, *Forza Horizon 5*, has achieved spectacular sales performance on the PlayStation 5 platform.
The research indicates that the popular Xbox title has recently eclipsed the five million copies sold milestone exclusively on the PS5. This enormous volume of sales directly translates into exceptional profitability, reportedly generating over $300 million in revenue from Sony’s player base alone.
These impressive figures strongly validate the strategic shift within the Xbox division toward multi-platform releases. Rhys Elliott of Alinea Analytics points out that this data clarifies why Microsoft is pursuing greater platform parity, stating that the move to third-party publishing is “no mystery,” especially given the company’s stringent profitability mandates.
While the revenue is significant, it is important to note that Microsoft does not retain the full $300 million. As per the industry standard, Sony takes a platform fee—typically a 30% cut—meaning the revenue split adheres to the common 70/30 distribution. Even factoring in this split, the sheer volume of sales underscores the immense financial potential unlocked by releasing flagship Xbox games on competing hardware.