Forza Horizon 5 Hits 2 Million on PS5 After Breaking Xbox Exclusivity
Forza Horizon 5 has officially passed the two million sales mark on PlayStation 5 within just a month of its release, marking a significant milestone for Playground Games and Xbox Game Studios. The beloved open-world racing series, long regarded as one of Xbox’s flagship franchises, made its PlayStation debut in late April and quickly resonated with Sony players.
Reports last month already highlighted the game’s early success, revealing that Forza Horizon 5 had earned over $100 million for Microsoft following its PS5 launch and topped the PlayStation sales charts for May. Now, new information shared by a former developer suggests that the game’s debut on PlayStation has exceeded expectations.
20 Years of Exclusivity Ends With Record-Breaking Launch
Since its inception with Forza Motorsport in 2005, the Forza franchise had remained firmly tied to Xbox consoles. That exclusivity came to an end on April 29, when Forza Horizon 5 launched on PS5 — a historic moment for the series and its fans. Despite being nearly four years old, the game made an immediate impact, becoming the second best-selling title in the United States in April, even though it arrived just two days before the end of the month.
According to Harrison Bolin, a former Turn 10 Studios designer, Forza Horizon 5 sold over two million copies on PS5 within its first month. Bolin’s updated LinkedIn profile, posted after leaving Microsoft, revealed the impressive sales figure, underscoring how warmly the PlayStation audience has embraced the series.
A Shifting Landscape for Racing Games
Forza’s strong showing comes at a time when the racing genre is seeing notable shifts. Electronic Arts recently revealed that it has effectively shelved the Need for Speed franchise, redirecting developer Criterion Games to focus entirely on Battlefield 6. Meanwhile, rumors have circulated that Sony may revive the long-dormant MotorStorm series, though no official confirmation has been made.
At the same time, the Forza franchise itself appears to be evolving. Reports indicate that the Motorsport sub-series has been quietly shuttered following layoffs at Turn 10 Studios. Moving forward, Xbox and Playground Games are expected to focus on the more accessible, arcade-style Horizon games, which have clearly demonstrated stronger mass-market appeal.
Forza Horizon 5’s PS5 success not only highlights the enduring popularity of the franchise but also signals a potential new strategy for Microsoft as it explores multiplatform releases for its most iconic series.
