In its latest financial report for Q1 2025, Microsoft revealed a surprising milestone — the company became the number one publisher on PlayStation in terms of pre-order and pre-install volume , a rare achievement for a traditionally Xbox-centric publisher. This revelation was highlighted by CEO Satya Nadella during a presentation outlining the company’s broader gaming strategy.

The key drivers behind this success were Forza Horizon 5 and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, both of which launched on PS5 within ten days of each other in April. Even before release, these titles consistently dominated the PlayStation Store charts, drawing strong interest from PlayStation users worldwide.

Microsoft's influence wasn't limited to Sony’s platform. On Xbox Series X|S, both titles performed exceptionally well too, alongside additional releases including South of Midnight and Avowed , developed by internal studios. Meanwhile, PC Game Pass saw a substantial revenue increase of 45% year-over-year, reinforcing Microsoft’s growing presence across multiple platforms.

This rising multiplatform momentum not only strengthens Microsoft’s position as a global games publisher but also adds pressure on Sony to respond. With upcoming major releases like Doom: The Dark Ages and the fan-created Oblivion Remastered already generating buzz on PS5, competition between the two tech giants is heating up.

Looking ahead, Microsoft plans to continue expanding its reach throughout 2025 with highly anticipated titles such as the next Call of Duty installment, alongside other cross-platform hits aimed at maintaining and growing its player base across consoles and PCs alike.

Main image: x.com

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