In a surprising twist of platform dynamics, April proved to be a stellar month for Xbox, with its titles dominating the PS5 download charts and The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered soaring into the top three best-selling games of 2025 in the United States.

This is yet another clear example that exclusivity isn’t always profitable — though try telling that to Nintendo. April was a powerhouse month for Xbox and Microsoft, as games developed and published by Xbox Game Studios topped the monthly download charts on PlayStation 5 across the United States, Canada, and the European Union.

According to sales figures from Circana, the recently released The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered became the third best-selling game of 2025 in the U.S. in record time. Only Monster Hunter: Wilds and Assassin’s Creed Shadows are ahead — for now.

Top 3 Identical Across Continents

The PlayStation Blog confirms the same trio at the top in both North America and Europe: Oblivion Remastered, Minecraft, and Forza Horizon 5. The newly launched Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 also made an impression, reaching the top five in Europe and ranking sixth in North America.

Mat Piscatella, managing director and industry analyst at Circana (formerly NPD Group), noted that Oblivion Remastered sold so well in just one week that it shot up to become the third most purchased title in the United States.

Xbox’s Multi-Platform Strategy Paying Off

Xbox’s new approach to launch games across all platforms instead of relying solely on first-party exclusives might have divided hardcore fans, but the numbers don’t lie — it’s working. The Forza Horizon 5 PlayStation 5 port is now one of the top downloads on Sony’s digital storefront.

And the timing couldn’t be better for increased game sales: Xbox recently announced hefty price hikes across its consoles, accessories, and upcoming releases expected later this year.

Source: WCCFTech, PS Blog, Bsky