July 15, 2025 – In a revelation that underscores the seismic shifts within the gaming industry, a now-deleted LinkedIn update from a former Xbox employee appears to have accidentally confirmed blockbuster sales figures for Forza Horizon 5 on PlayStation 5. According to the leak, the critically acclaimed open-world racer sold a staggering 2 million copies on Sony's console within its first month of release.
The news, first spotted and shared by industry observer @Zuby_Tech on Twitter (https://x.com/Zuby_Tech/status/1944431810726797708), sent shockwaves through gaming communities. The former employee's profile update reportedly listed their involvement in the "PS5 launch campaign for Forza Horizon 5" and cited the "2M+ unit sales milestone" as a key achievement before it was swiftly removed. While Microsoft has yet to officially comment on the specific figure, the leak aligns with earlier reports of the title's phenomenal performance.
This accidental disclosure throws a massive spotlight on the success of Microsoft's new multi-platform strategy. Releasing what was once a flagship Xbox exclusive on a rival console was a bold gamble, but the reported 2 million sales figure suggests it's paying off handsomely. For context, hitting 2 million units on a single platform in one month is territory typically reserved for Sony's own top-tier first-party exclusives or monumental cross-platform launches.
"[This] is an outrageous number for a port of a game that's been available elsewhere for years," noted gaming outlet Push Square in their coverage of the leak (https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2025/07/xboxs-forza-horizon-5-sold-an-outrageous-2-million-copies-on-ps5-in-a-month). "It speaks volumes about the enduring quality of Forza Horizon 5 and the pent-up demand from PlayStation owners to experience Playground Games' masterpiece."
Analysts point to several factors driving this success:
- Unmatched Quality: Forza Horizon 5 was already lauded as one of the best racing games ever made, boasting stunning visuals, incredibly fun driving mechanics, and a vast, vibrant world.
- Pent-Up Demand: PlayStation gamers, locked out of the franchise for over a decade, were clearly eager to experience the Horizon magic.
- Optimized Port: Reports indicate the PS5 version runs exceptionally well, leveraging the console's capabilities.
- Strong Marketing: Microsoft seemingly pulled out the stops to promote the game to the PlayStation audience.
The implications are significant. This level of success on PS5 dramatically boosts the game's overall lifetime sales and provides Microsoft with substantial revenue from a user base outside its traditional ecosystem. It also serves as a powerful case study for the potential profitability of bringing select former exclusives to competing platforms, a strategy Microsoft is actively pursuing with other titles.
Whether the former employee's LinkedIn update was a genuine slip-up, a calculated leak, or simply a premature career-limiting move remains unclear. However, the figure itself – 2 million PS5 copies in one month – is now firmly embedded in the gaming discourse, painting a vivid picture of Forza Horizon 5's cross-platform dominance and validating Microsoft's controversial strategy shift.
Experience the phenomenon that took PlayStation by storm:
Forza Horizon 5 - Standard Edition (PS5)
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