Forza Horizon 5 has sold over 5 million copies on PS5?! 🤯 That's $300M in revenue from a 4-year-old game. Microsoft's strategy is working. 🏎️💨
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It’s rare for a video game that is four years old to feel
like a brand-new blockbuster, but Forza Horizon 5 is currently defying
industry norms. Since making its surprise debut on the PlayStation 5 in April
2025, the open-world racer has been on an absolute tear.
According to fresh data from market analytics firm Alinea
Analytics, Forza Horizon 5 has now officially surpassed 5 million
copies sold on the PS5 platform. What makes this figure staggering is the
revenue implication: an estimated $300 million generated from a port of
a game that originally launched in 2021.
A "Late" Release That Paid Off
When Forza Horizon 5 dropped on PS5 on April 29,
2025, it was a major milestone in Microsoft’s shifting strategy. For years, Forza
was the poster child for Xbox exclusivity. But in 2025, that wall came down.
And PlayStation players showed up in droves. Alinea's Rhys
Elliott noted on X that hitting 5 million sales on a "port of a
four-year-old game" is a remarkable feat. In fact, earlier in 2025, Alinea
estimated that Forza Horizon 5 was the year's top-selling digital game
on PS5 up to that point, beating out brand-new titles that were marketed as
system sellers.
Forza Horizon 5 crossed 5 million copies sold on PS5 this week (@alineaanalytics estimates)
That's over $300M in revenue from a port of a four-year old game.
Xbox's move to third-party is no mystery, especially given Microsoft's lofty profitability mandates.
Why This Success Matters
This isn't just about money; it's about the longevity of the
game. Usually, racing games see a sharp decline in sales after the first year
or two. By bringing Horizon 5 to a completely new audience in 2025,
Playground Games effectively reset the clock.
The data validates Microsoft's controversial decision to
bring first-party titles to rival hardware. Alongside The Elder Scrolls IV:
Oblivion Remastered and Minecraft, Xbox titles actually occupied the
top three spots on the PS5 digital bestsellers list at one point last year. It
proves that the demand for high-quality arcade racers on PlayStation was there,
and Horizon 5 was the perfect game to fill that void.
The Road Ahead: Japan and Forza Horizon 6
While Forza Horizon 5 continues to print money on
PS5, Playground Games isn't resting on its laurels. All eyes are now on the
sequel.
The studio is deep in development on Forza Horizon 6,
which was revealed at the Tokyo Game Show last September. The big hook for the
upcoming title is the setting: Japan. This is the location fans have
been begging for, representing a massive shift from the Mexican landscapes of
the previous entry.
Forza Horizon 6 is set to launch first on PC and Xbox
Series S/X in 2026. While a PS5 version is planned, it won't be available
day-and-date; PlayStation fans will likely have to wait a bit longer for their
turn.
When to See Gameplay
If you are hungry to see the next chapter in action, you won't have to wait long. Xbox is hosting its Developer Direct showcase on January 22, where Playground Games is set to debut the first proper gameplay for Forza Horizon 6, alongside a deep dive into the upcoming Fable reboot.
#ForzaHorizon5 #Xbox #PlayStation5 #GamingNews
#PlaygroundGames #ForzaHorizon6 #Microsoft #GamingIndustry
