Sea of Thieves has experienced a notable increase in its sales on PS5, crossing the milestone of one million units sold since its release on the console in late April. Initially an Xbox-exclusive title, the game has shown resilience despite a decline in interest following its launch. Sales data from Sony highlights that Sea of Thieves was the top downloaded game on PS5 in both North America and Europe during May, maintained a spot in the top five in June, and continued to be among the top ten in July.

The strategy behind Xbox's approach was discussed by Phil Spencer, the head of Xbox. He indicated that the launch of several games last spring across different platforms was part of a learning process for the company, which would influence their future offerings. Spencer noted that their franchises have been growing stronger, and Xbox console user numbers have reached new highs this year. He expressed satisfaction with the increasing player base on consoles while recognizing the strong position of their franchises.

Initially introduced in 2018 for Xbox, Sea of Thieves exemplifies a trend in Microsoft's approach to gaming, focusing primarily on their own consoles for developed titles before making them available on other platforms. A further example of this practice is the upcoming release of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, which was announced at Gamescom and is set to launch for Xbox and PC this December, with a PS5 release planned for early 2025.

Spencer emphasized the high expectations within Microsoft regarding the quality of their game deliveries, crediting the incredible support from the company. He noted their focus on enhancing the strength of their games and ensuring growth across all platforms, including console, PC, and cloud gaming. Spencer believes that this strategy will continue to benefit the company moving forward.