Forza Horizon 5: 2025 Top-Selling New PS5 Game Analysis

Forza Horizon 5 has emerged as the top-selling new game on the PlayStation 5 for 2025, surpassing 3 million units sold on the platform following its late-March release. This performance highlights a significant shift in industry dynamics, as the title—originally an Xbox and PC exclusive—outpaced several major first-party PlayStation releases. The success of the title on competing hardware, alongside its 6.5 million copies sold on Steam, underscores the efficacy of Microsoft’s evolving strategy to distribute its flagship intellectual property across multiple platforms.

The broader market landscape for 2025 includes several notable performers. Monster Hunter Wilds holds the second position with 2.9 million units sold on PS5, though it generates higher total revenue than Forza Horizon 5 due to its premium $70 price point. Other significant titles include Assassin’s Creed Shadows, which has reached approximately 2 million units on PS5, and the experimental souls-like Elden Ring Nightreign, which achieved nearly 5 million units across all platforms. Additionally, the new IP Expedition 33 demonstrated strong market penetration with 1.4 million copies sold on PS5, outperforming established JRPG franchises.

These findings reflect a broader transition for Xbox, which is increasingly moving away from a console-centric model toward a third-party publishing strategy. With Game Pass subscription growth stagnating on consoles, Microsoft is leveraging its software portfolio to tap into the larger install bases of rival platforms. This shift suggests that future Xbox hardware will likely function more like a PC-integrated device, positioning the brand as a universal gaming layer rather than a traditional, isolated console ecosystem. These insights are derived from proprietary market estimates tracking sales and engagement data across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms throughout the first half of 2025.