Xbox Series X|S Sales Have Risen In The UK, Partly Thanks To Forza Horizon 6
Xbox Series X|S console sales rose 12% in the UK during May 2026, marking an encouraging turnaround for Microsoft’s current-generation hardware. Industry analyst Chris Dring of The Game Business attributed the increase partly to Forza Horizon 6, which launched during the period and appears to have successfully driven consumer interest in Xbox systems.
The sales growth is particularly noteworthy when compared to PS5 performance. PlayStation 5 sales declined 50% in May, though this drop is primarily linked to a recent hardware price increase rather than direct competition from Xbox exclusives. Remarkably, despite the PS5’s significant downturn, the two platforms finished the month nearly neck-and-neck, with Xbox coming within just 400 units of PS5 sales in the UK market—a striking convergence given their typical sales dynamics.
The data underscores the continuing influence of flagship exclusive titles on hardware adoption. Forza Horizon 6’s apparent impact on Xbox Series X|S sales reinforces the established pattern that major first-party releases remain critical drivers of console sales performance. The launch timing also coincided with Microsoft’s renewed emphasis on adding new features and content to its current-generation platforms, which may have contributed to the broader momentum.
However, attributing the entire 12% sales increase solely to Forza Horizon 6 remains difficult. Multiple factors likely influenced the result, including marketing initiatives, renewed user interest in the platform, and the relative weakness of PS5 sales during the month. Still, the data suggests that quality exclusive content remains a proven method for stimulating hardware interest and market share recovery.