ENTERTAINMENT

Console Games Still Rocking, Despite Xbox's Struggles

Wed Nov 05 2025

Xbox's Future is Looking Shaky

Xbox's future is looking shaky, especially with big games like The Outer Worlds 2 and Halo heading to PlayStation 5. Microsoft is cooking up the next Xbox, but things aren't looking too bright. Yet, don't jump to conclusions about consoles being on their way out. A well-known video game analyst has some interesting insights.

Sales Numbers Paint a Different Picture

Rhys Elliott from Alinea Insight shared some eye-opening sales numbers for PlayStation 5 games in October 2025. Battlefield 6, EA Sports FC 26, and Ghost of Yotey were the top sellers, moving 3.2 million, 3 million, and 2.7 million copies respectively. That's nearly 9 million sales combined!

Elliott points out that big-budget games, live services, and single-player experiences are still doing great on consoles. He's had it with the "consoles are dead" talk, but admits Xbox as a brand is indeed struggling.

Microsoft's Strategy Pays Off

Microsoft's strategy of bringing Xbox exclusives to PlayStation 5 is paying off. Games like Minecraft and Grand Theft Auto 5 made it to the top 10 sales list on PlayStation earlier this year. Regular updates and new content in Minecraft and GTA Online kept players engaged. EA Sports also had a strong showing with FC 26, FC 25, and Madden NFL 26 taking three spots in the top 10. NBA 2K26 wasn't far behind, selling 564,000 copies that month.

Top 10 Best-Selling PS5 Games for October 2025

  1. Battlefield 6 - 3.2 million
  2. EA Sports FC 26 - 3.0 million
  3. Ghost of Yotey - 2.7 million
  4. Minecraft - 635,000
  5. NBA 2K26 - 564,000
  6. EA FC 25 - 350,000
  7. Grand Theft Auto 5 - 338,000
  8. EA Madden NFL 26 - 261,000
  9. Little Nightmares 3 - 245,000
  10. Digimon Story: Time Stranger - 241,000

Console Gaming is Far from Dead

So, while Xbox might be in a tough spot, console games are far from dead. The numbers speak for themselves. It's time to stop the doom and gloom and recognize that gaming on consoles is still thriving.

questions

    What factors might contribute to the continued popularity of AAA games and live services on consoles, despite the perceived decline of the Xbox brand?
    How does the success of multi-platform games like Minecraft and Grand Theft Auto 5 on PlayStation 5 challenge the notion that Xbox's decline indicates the end of console gaming?
    How do the sales figures of games like Battlefield 6 and EA Sports FC 26 on PlayStation 5 support the argument that console gaming is still thriving?

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