As PS5 price increase craters UK sales, Xbox consoles boosted by exclusive game

May retail data in the UK confirms that PlayStation suffered a steep drop in console sales. The latest PS5 price increase contributed to a 50% decline compared to the prior month. Meanwhile, as Microsoft nearly catches Sony on the charts, Xbox fans are crediting an exclusive game for the turnaround.

An Xbox resurgence?

Christopher Dring of The Game Business teased the numbers on social media. While the higher MSRP for PlayStation consoles took effect in early April, not all stores reacted immediately. Still, as buyers rushed to claim units, the more affordable existing supply ran out by May.

Many gamers find the resurgence in Xbox console sales the most newsworthy development. Dring noted that for the month, the PS5 “only outsold Xbox Series S/X by 400 units”. That’s particularly surprising, considering the system is often out of stock or not sold at some UK retailers.

On April 2nd, the PS5 price increase introduced a £90 rise for digital and disc versions, as well as the PS5 Pro. With the memory shortage wreaking havoc, the update came after an earlier upward adjustment in April 2025. The Xbox Series X 1TB with optical drive is now £70 cheaper than its standard PS5 rival.

The power of exclusivity

Even though Microsoft has implemented similar increases, its hardware now looks more tempting. However, in May, an Xbox exclusive game could be largely responsible for the manufacturer’s gains. Dring revealed that Forza Horizon 6 played a major role in the 12% monthly improvement.

Following its May 19th release date, the journalist previously disclosed a strong start for the open-world racer. In the UK, it debuted in 2nd place in physical sales behind LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight. That may not seem impressive, but Microsoft’s first-party titles struggle in these rankings. Starfield was the last contender to crack the top 5 in 2023.

Some fans believe that more Xbox exclusives would further capitalize on the PS5 price increase. CEO Asha Sharma has hinted that the company was reconsidering its cross-platform approach. For now, Forza Horizon 6 is still expected to launch on PlayStation later in 2026.