Forza Horizon 6 and Subnautica 2 top Steam sales despite Game Pass launches

Forza Horizon 6 and Subnautica 2 are both coming to Xbox Game Pass, but that has not stopped them from selling strongly on Steam. The two games recently took the top two spots on Steam’s premium best seller list, showing that a day one Game Pass launch does not always reduce direct sales.

SteamDB’s weekly data for May 5 to May 12, 2026, listed Forza Horizon 6 at No. 1 and Subnautica 2 at No. 2 among paid games on Steam. The trend also continued into the following week, with both games still holding the top premium spots in the US and UK Steam charts around May 13.

That is important because Steam’s top seller list is based on revenue, not just copies sold. Forza Horizon 6 is a higher priced release, so its No. 1 position is not too surprising given the size of the franchise. Subnautica 2 standing near the top is more notable because it costs much less than Forza Horizon 6, yet still generated enough revenue to stay ahead of many other paid games.

Both games are also scheduled for Xbox Game Pass, including PC Game Pass. That makes their Steam performance a useful reminder that many players still prefer owning games on their chosen platform. Some may want to play through Steam because of their existing library, Steam Deck support, refund options, achievements, or long term access without a subscription.

The result also shows that Game Pass can work differently depending on the game. Some releases may rely heavily on subscription exposure, while others are strong enough to sell well at the same time. For major titles with strong interest, Game Pass can sit alongside direct sales instead of replacing them.

Forza Horizon 6 already had strong momentum from early access and positive reception. Subnautica 2 also entered early access with huge demand after years of anticipation. Both games had enough attention to perform well before their wider Game Pass audience fully arrived.

This is a good sign for Xbox’s May lineup. Game Pass gets two high profile additions, while Steam sales show that both games are also bringing in direct revenue. If that momentum continues, Forza Horizon 6 and Subnautica 2 could become two of the biggest Xbox related PC launches of 2026.