Forza Horizon 5 PS5 Port Surpasses 5 Million Sales, Generates $300 Million for Microsoft

Forza Horizon 5 has sold over 5 million copies on PlayStation 5, generating an estimated $300 million (£223 million) in additional revenue for Microsoft, according to independent analyst Rhys Elliott. This major sales milestone highlights the financial impact of bringing Microsoft’s formerly Xbox-exclusive racing title to a rival platform.

According to Rhys Elliott of Alinea Analytics, the PlayStation 5 port of Forza Horizon 5 has achieved sales exceeding five million units as of January 2026. Elliott estimates that this port, released four years after the original game, has delivered over $300 million (£223 million) in incremental revenue for the game’s IP owner, Microsoft. This extraordinary result underscores Microsoft’s successful strategy of extending Xbox-exclusive titles to third-party platforms in pursuit of higher profitability mandates. Elliott stated, “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.”

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.

— Rhys Elliott (@superhys) January 9, 2026

The decision to offer Forza Horizon 5 on PlayStation 5 marks a turning point in Microsoft’s approach to exclusive game distribution. Previously reserved for Xbox and PC players, the four-year-old racing title’s arrival on PS5 has rapidly paid dividends. The sales figures come at a time when Microsoft is actively exploring wider third-party releases for its first-party content, driven by the prospect of capturing larger audiences and increasing profit per intellectual property.

This news arrives just as Microsoft announces a new Developer Direct event scheduled for 22 January 2026, which will spotlight upcoming projects such as Fable, Beast of Reincarnation, and the hotly anticipated Forza Horizon 6. The event promises a “deep dive” into Forza Horizon 6, with extensive coverage of gameplay systems, new features, and technological advancements.

Microsoft has confirmed that Forza Horizon 6 will be set in Japan, a detail first revealed during this year’s Tokyo Game Show. Art director Don Arceta has promised that the Japan map for Forza Horizon 6 will be the largest and most content-rich environment in the franchise to-date. Arceta said, “This map that we’ve created for Japan, or Horizon’s version of Japan, is big, but also dense. There’s always something around the corner for you to discover and see.” In addition, Arceta confirmed that the map will feature Tokyo, which Arceta described as “the biggest city that we’ve done in a Horizon game yet.”

• Forza Horizon 5 PS5 sales: 5 million+ (as of January 2026)
• Estimated revenue from PS5 port: $300 million (£223 million)
• Original game release: Four years before PS5 port
• Next major franchise entry: Forza Horizon 6
• Forza Horizon 6 setting: Japan, including a detailed Tokyo map
• Next Microsoft Developer Direct: 22 January 2026

Microsoft’s experiment with multiplatform publishing for Forza Horizon 5 serves as concrete evidence of the revenue potential for established franchises beyond the Xbox ecosystem. The commercial outcome strengthens the case for further third-party launches and underpins the company’s evolving business strategy for Xbox Game Studios. With Forza Horizon 6 preparing to set a new benchmark in map scale, density, and cultural immersion, the franchise continues to expand its reach and commercial success.