Forza Horizon 5 PS5 Port: How Xbox Scored a Rare Cross-Platform Win

This caught my attention because Microsoft rarely posts wins like this on a rival platform. Forza Horizon 5 landing as the best-selling Xbox-to-PS5 port of 2025 isn’t just a sales stat – it’s proof that a well-executed port plus the right market timing can flip the script on platform exclusivity.

Forza Horizon 5 Is By Far – Why the PS5 Port Matters

• Best-selling Xbox-to-PS5 port in 2025: Alinea Analytics estimates ~5.1M PS5 copies sold, generating roughly $300M in PS5 revenue.
• Player growth: PS5 release helped push total players past ~50M by August 2025, a ~5-7M bump tied to the port.
• Technical parity + DualSense = compelling offer for PS5 owners who skipped the original launch.
• Strategic win for Microsoft: high-margin direct sales on a rival platform without cannibalizing Game Pass core players.

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Publisher|Xbox Game Studios / Playground Games
Release Date|April 29, 2025 (PS5 port)
Category|Racing / Open-world
Platform|PS5 (also Xbox Series X|S, PC)
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What actually happened – numbers and context

Alinea Analytics’ tally — roughly 5.1 million PS5 units sold in 2025 — places Forza Horizon 5 immediately behind only PlayStation’s Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (5.2M) for that year on PS5. That’s striking: a Microsoft-published, long-in-the-tooth title converted into hundreds of millions in incremental revenue by reaching a platform with a much larger install base than Xbox.

Those sales translated into real player growth. Forza Horizon 5 was reported to cross the 50 million player mark by August 2025, with the PS5 launch responsible for the lion’s share of that recent growth. Steam and PC figures also show sustained activity, but the PS5 numbers represent paid purchases rather than Game Pass plays — high-margin dollars for Microsoft.

Why the PS5 port worked where others stumble

Three practical reasons: parity, convenience, and market demand. The PS5 build shipped with performance options that match Xbox Series X (4K/60 or 1440p→4K/120 modes), fast load times, and meaningful DualSense integration — adaptive triggers and nuanced haptics that amplify steering and surface feedback. That gives PS5 players a plug-and-play experience with sensory benefits they don’t get on Xbox controllers.

Timing helped too. Sony’s platform had fewer fresh open-world racing contenders after Gran Turismo 7’s big seasons, and PlayStation’s large install base created a substantial addressable audience. Microsoft’s decision to price the port at full or near-full price in many markets converted that install base into direct sales rather than reserved sampling.

Skepticism and limits

Be cautious with headline numbers. Public trackers and market analysts differ on exact player and revenue counts; Alinea’s 5.1M and ~$300M estimate is plausible but not identical to other estimates that range slightly higher or lower. Also, ports don’t guarantee forever — ongoing content, cross-play stability, and live-service support will determine how many PS5 buyers stay active.

What this means for players deciding where to play

• Buy on PS5 if you want DualSense immersion, hassle-free settings, and are on PlayStation without Game Pass — you’ll get parity with Series X and the benefits of paid content.
• Stick with Xbox (or PC) if you already subscribe to Game Pass — the subscription still offers the best value for players who prioritize cost over ownership.
• Link accounts for cross-progression if you jump platforms — the post-port cross-play ecosystem works well and keeps your progress intact.

TL;DR — My take

Forza Horizon 5’s PS5 port is a rare, visible win for Microsoft’s multi-platform approach. It converted PlayStation’s install base into paid players at scale, delivered a technically solid product with DualSense-specific touches, and proved ports can be lucrative when done right. Caveat: exact numbers vary by tracker, and long-term retention depends on continued support — but for PS5 owners who love driving games, this was an easy buy.