The impossible has finally happened: Microsoft confirmed that the upcoming Halo: Campaign Evolved will launch on PlayStation 5 (among other platforms), meaning that the literal face of the Xbox brand is going to be available on its main competitor’s current-gen console very soon. For many, this was the end of the “Console Wars,” but in reality, Microsoft has been betting on this cross-platform strategy for many years, and it has worked quite well for them so far.
As mind-blowing as seeing Master Chief on a PlayStation 5 is, this isn’t the first time a renowned Xbox icon has been ported to the competition’s systems, nor will it be the last. There are actually many great Microsoft/Xbox games on PlayStation consoles, with the following titles being the most notorious ones so far. Keep in mind that this list will include titles that were either directly published by Xbox Game Studios or by one of Microsoft’s subsidiaries (like Bethesda or Activision), but only if they were released on PlayStation after their developers' respective acquisitions.
Hi-Fi Rush
A Colorful Hack-And-Slash Game With Brilliant Rhythm-Based Gameplay
Hi-Fi Rush
- Released
- January 25, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Rated T: Fantasy Violence, Language
- Developer(s)
- Tango Gameworks
- Genre(s)
- Action
Most PlayStation users couldn’t help but feel jealous when Bethesda shadow-dropped Hi-Fi Rush in early 2023. This amazing hack-and-slash game with a beautiful cartoon-inspired art style and a unique but brilliant rhythm-based combat system was originally 100% exclusive to PC and Xbox consoles.
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Fortunately, Microsoft kicked off its initiative to port its exclusives over to PlayStation systems a little over a year later, meaning that Hi-Fi Rush was eventually made available on PlayStation 5 as well. This is a win for everyone involved, because this game is a true piece of art that anybody who appreciates animation, comedy, video games, and music can and will enjoy.
Grounded
Obsidian Entertainment’s Inventive Survival Game
Grounded
- Released
- September 27, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Blood, Mild Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Obsidian Entertainment
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror, RPG
Many beloved games by Obsidian Entertainment, like Pentiment or The Outer Worlds 2, are currently available on PlayStation consoles, but Grounded remains one of their best projects from recent years. At first glance, this may seem like a cartoony game about a bunch of kids who get shrunk down and have to explore their backyard, but it quickly becomes evident that this is actually a ruthless survival adventure in which players will have to be extremely careful if they want to survive.
Small insects suddenly become giant beasts, insignificant materials like sticks or leaves become valuable resources, and day-to-day objects like toys or trees become massive structures that have to be climbed over. The world of Grounded is truly fascinating, and its gameplay loop is downright addictive (albeit a bit frustrating at times), so any fan of the survival genre who may have been put off by its presentation should try it out.
Sea Of Thieves
The Quintessential Pirate Video Game
Sea of Thieves
- Released
- March 20, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
Microsoft’s acquisition of Rare in 2002 was highly controversial, mainly because it meant that the British studio that had been working closely with Nintendo for many years was going to start making Xbox exclusives. This partnership led to many disappointing releases, until Rare finally made Sea of Thieves. Despite initially receiving some valid criticisms, it eventually became a true modern classic.
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Anybody interested in pirates must play this game, simple as that. It allows players to create their own character, form their own pirate crew, and set sail to find treasure, raid other ships, and even fight massive aquatic monsters, like the Kraken or the Megalodon. Sea of Thieves is a very fun multiplayer open-world game that remained exclusive to Xbox consoles for six years, until Microsoft ported it to PS5 in early 2024.
Indiana Jones And The Great Circle
Indy’s Best And Biggest Video Game Adventure
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
- Released
- December 9, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Mild Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- MachineGames
It seems like Microsoft tried to stick to the concept of Xbox exclusives for a while, because Indiana Jones and the Great Circle was initially exclusive to Xbox Series X/S and PC, but it was later ported over to PlayStation 5 in early 2025. Nevertheless, this is yet another case of consumers winning out, because this is an excellent action-adventure game that was received positively and even won some awards.
Indiana Jones did star in a few decent video games before this one, but The Great Circle is on another level. The talented staff at MachineGames showed off their expertise at developing exciting first-person adventures with historical backgrounds and managed to create something truly special. Gameplay-wise, getting to control Indy and wielding his iconic whip to fight enemies is incredibly satisfying. The game’s diverse environments look absolutely breathtaking, not to mention that Troy Baker’s impeccable performance as the titular character makes the entire project feel like a true Indiana Jones feature film.
Doom: The Dark Ages
The Most Recent Entry In This Iconic FPS Series Did Not Disappoint
DOOM: The Dark Ages
- Released
- May 15, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence
- Developer(s)
- id Software
- Genre(s)
- FPS, Action, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
The Doom series has been associated with Microsoft and Windows since its inception, seeing as the original 1993 game pretty much revolutionized and popularized first-person shooters on personal computers. Nevertheless, since its development studio, id Software, was acquired by Bethesda in 2009 (which was later acquired by Microsoft in 2020), this is technically a Microsoft-owned franchise now.
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The only Doom game that was released after this acquisition was 2025’s Doom: The Dark Ages, and despite some initial worries by PlayStation fans, it simultaneously launched on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC. Fortunately, The Dark Ages is as violent and fast-paced as its two predecessors (Doom (2016) and Doom: Eternal), but its new dark fantasy coat of paint, its detailed modern graphics, and its more grounded combat system with a bigger focus on parrying helped it stand out.
Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2
The Return Of A Once-Forgotten PlayStation Exclusive
Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2
- Released
- May 21, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Developer(s)
- Ninja Theory
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure
It’s really curious how the video game industry works sometimes. Ninja Theory’s Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice was originally released as a PS4 exclusive back in 2017, but it was ported to Xbox One in 2019, a few months before Microsoft announced that it had acquired the entire development studio. As a result of this purchase, the direct sequel, Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2, was 100% exclusive to Xbox Series X/S and PC for more than a year.
Luckily, it was ported over to PS5 in August 2025, so now users of Sony's console can experience this dark and emotional adventure. Just like its predecessor, Hellblade 2 may look like a realistic action-adventure game from the outside, but it’s actually a thorough deep dive into the disturbed psyche of its titular character, complete with unsettling imagery and many shocking moments. That’s not all, because this game also boasts beautiful, lifelike graphics and a brutal combat system that keeps things interesting.
Gears Of War: Reloaded
Another Massive Xbox Icon That Made The Jump To PlayStation
Gears of War: Reloaded
- Released
- August 26, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- The Coalition
- Genre(s)
- Action, Third-Person Shooter, War & Military
The news that a Halo game would launch on PS5 wasn’t much of a surprise as it might have been a few years ago, because Microsoft had already done the same with another of its big exclusive IPs several months back. The recent release of Gears of War: Reloaded was a monumental moment for both companies because it marked the first time an entry in this beloved third-person shooter series was available on a PlayStation console.
As a remastered port of the 2006 classic, Gears of War: Reloaded takes everything that made this franchise so special and popular in the first place, but gives it a much-needed modern coat of paint with detailed HD graphics and online multiplayer with cross-play and cross-progression. At the end of the day, this frenetic and violent third-person shooter has aged surprisingly well and, fortunately, it has now been made accessible to an even bigger audience.
Ninja Gaiden 4
PlatinumGames Proved That They Can Still Make Excellent Hack-And-Slash Games
Ninja Gaiden 4
- Released
- October 21, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
- Platinum Games, Team Ninja, Koei Tecmo Games Co., Ltd.
The 3D Ninja Gaiden games are synonymous with the Xbox brand. The original 2004 reboot and its sequel were exclusive to the Xbox and Xbox 360, respectively. While these games were eventually ported over to other platforms, Microsoft still maintained a close partnership with Koei Tecmo, which is why the latest entry in the series, Ninja Gaiden 4, was published by Xbox Game Studios (who released it on PC, Xbox Series X/S and PS5).
PlatinumGames was chosen to develop this long-awaited return to the 3D formula, and while fans were initially worried about this choice due to the studio’s current state, they definitely knocked it out of the park and proved that they still have what it takes to make a thrilling character action game. Ninja Gaiden 4 boasts a fun and stylish combat system, a variety of fun weapons and abilities for both Ryu and Yakumo to wield in combat, and a collection of challenging bosses that are very satisfying to defeat.
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