The Xbox One takes the top spot over the PlayStation 4 in October 2015, as Microsoft explains that the release of Halo 5: Guardians assists in the sale of its consoles.

According to numbers released by the global market research firm the NPD Group, the Xbox One outsold PlayStation 4 in October, and Microsoft's marketing boss Mike Nichols says that the feat was accomplished with the aid of the newest entry in the company's biggest and most recognizable franchise, Halo 5: Guardians. Not only does the tech firm executive cite Halo 5 as an influence to the console's sales success, but he also references the availability of other exclusive games as a catalyst for the feat.

Microsoft has been touting its console's holiday exclusives for quite some time, with the company's Corporate Vice President Kudo Tsunoda recently saying that the competition didn't quite “stack up” against the Xbox One's lineup. Nichols echoed the CVP's sentiments in a statement regarding the current-gen console's October sales triumph, saying:

“The strength of the greatest games lineup in Xbox history drove record Xbox Live usage for October and made Xbox One the best-selling console in the U.S. with 81 percent growth compared to October 2014. We saw amazing fan excitement, commercial success and critical acclaim in October for Halo 5: Guardians, which was the best-selling game in the U.S., and other Xbox One titles launching earlier this fall, including Forza Motorsport 6, Gears of War: Ultimate Edition, Harmonix’s Rock Band 4, and Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed Syndicate.”

With Halo 5 becoming the best selling game for October 2015, it's a no brainer that it helped push the Xbox One's sales skyward. After all, in order for fans to experience the 343 Industries-developed sci-fi shooter, they would have to own Microsoft's hardware, which obviously led to more folks buying the current-gen console.

This is the second month in 2015 that Microsoft's system beat Sony's in moved units, as Xbox One sales beat PS4 in April. Of course, with today's news favoring Microsoft, the American multinational definitely wants and needs to keep up the pace, by increasing the momentum throughout the rest of the year.

However, should the Xbox One wish to catch up to the PlayStation 4 in overall figures, it's going to be a tough row to hoe, as Sony's current-gen console has shipped nearly 30 million units to date. As it happens, even the head of Microsoft's Xbox division has been skeptical about the home for Master Chief catching up to the PS4, as Phil Spencer said that he was unsure if the undertaking could be accomplished. Nonetheless, with holiday sales right around the corner, and Microsoft's bevy of Xbox One bundles to boot, the company has some potential to at least close the gap between itself and competitors.

Halo 5: Guardians is available now as an exclusive release for Xbox One.

Source: VentureBeat