Bloody Hell, Microsoft's Conquered PlayStation Charts! (But What Does It *Really* Mean?)
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
Microsoft's games dominated PlayStation's top-selling charts last quarter in the US, a slightly bonkers situation that raises questions about console exclusivity and the future of gaming. While Microsoft celebrates record revenues, it's hard to ignore the recent layoffs casting a shadow over the celebrations.
Right, so according to *Eurogamer*, Microsoft's had a blinder of a quarter... on PlayStation. I know, I know, sounds mad, doesn't it? Apparently, six out of the top ten best-selling games on PlayStation in the US between April and June were published by Microsoft. Six! Fair dinkum, that's a lot.
Think about that for a second. We're talking Forza Horizon 5 tearing up the tarmac at number two (only pipped by *Elden Ring's* newfangled *Nightreign* expansion, mind you). Then you've got the likes of *The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered*, *Doom: The Dark Ages* (oooh, that's looking tasty!), and, of course, *Minecraft* all raking it in. Sony themselves only managed two titles in that top ten: *MLB: The Show 25* and *Death Stranding 2: On the Beach*.
Here's the PlayStation top ten laid bare, as reported by *Eurogamer* who got the data from Circana analyst Mat Piscatella:
* Elden Ring Nightreign (Bandai Namco Entertainment) * Forza Horizon 5 (Microsoft) * The Elder Scrolls 4 Oblivion Remastered (Microsoft) * MLB: The Show 25 (Sony) * Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (Microsoft) * Doom: The Dark Ages (Microsoft) * Death Stranding 2: On the Beach (Sony) * Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (Microsoft) * Minecraft (Microsoft) * Assassin's Creed Shadows (Ubisoft)
Now, Xbox's own top sellers look a little different. *Elden Ring Nightreign* still wears the crown, naturally. But according to *Eurogamer's* report, only four Microsoft published games made the Xbox top ten. Titles like *Indiana Jones and the Great Circle* were notably absent, though it's worth remembering they're available on Game Pass. And speaking of the big M's subscription service, their annual revenue is closing in on $5bn! Crikey.
For comparison, *Eurogamer* reported the Xbox top ten as:
* Elden Ring Nightreign (Bandai Namco Entertainment) * The Elder Scrolls 4 Oblivion Remastered (Microsoft) * The Elder Scrolls Online (Microsoft) * Minecraft (Microsoft) * NBA 2K25 (Take-Two Interactive) * WWE 2K25 (Take-Two Interactive) * Assassin's Creed Shadows (Ubisoft) * PGA Tour 2K25 (Take-Two Interactive) * Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (Microsoft) * Split Fiction (EA)
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella is apparently chuffed, declaring Microsoft the "top publisher" on both Xbox and PlayStation. He also mentioned the $5 billion Game Pass revenue figure. Sounds like good news, right? Well... remember those 9000 layoffs *Eurogamer* mentioned a few weeks back? Microsoft called them "necessary to position the company and teams for success." Right... Sounds a bit like sacking the cooks to make sure the restaurant's ready for a Michelin star, doesn't it?
So, what does it all mean? Are we heading towards a future where console exclusivity is a quaint memory? Is this Microsoft's cunning plan to become the Netflix of gaming, dominating every platform? Or is it just a quirky blip in the charts? I reckon it's a bit of all three. The gaming landscape is changing faster than ever, and this is just another sign of the times. Whether that's a good thing or a bad thing... well, that's a debate for another pint. Cheers!
Tags: Microsoft, PlayStation, Game Sales, Industry Analysis, Game Pass
Original article: Eurogamer