Forza Horizon 5 on PlayStation 5 requires players to have a Microsoft account, as confirmed by the company. This requirement was detailed in a FAQ on the Forza support website, which states, “Yes, in addition to a PSN account you’ll need to link to a Microsoft account in order to play Forza Horizon 5 on PS5. This process begins the first time you start up the game on your console.” This approach aligns with Microsoft's strategy for other Xbox games on Sony’s console, including titles like Minecraft, Grounded, and Sea of Thieves.
The policy has stirred some controversy, particularly among advocates for game preservation. The organization Does it play?, which focuses on ensuring the accessibility of games and hardware, expressed concerns via Twitter, stating that this requirement “basically kills preservation for the PS5 version of Forza Horizon 5.” The fear is that if Microsoft discontinues the account linking process in the future without updating the game, Forza Horizon 5 on PS5 could become unplayable. Additionally, players worry about losing access to their linked Microsoft accounts, which could render the game inaccessible. These concerns are heightened by Microsoft's decision to release Forza Horizon 5 on PS5 exclusively as a digital download, with no physical disc version planned.
The reaction from the PS5 community has been mixed, with many questioning whether the game offers cross-progression due to the mandatory Microsoft account linking. According to the FAQ, Forza Horizon 5 on PS5 does not support save file transfers from Xbox or PC. Microsoft clarified that this is consistent with the behavior between the Xbox and Steam versions, where game files remain separate and unsynchronized.
While user-generated content (UGC) can be published on one platform and downloaded to play on another, editing UGC is only possible on the original creation profile. Some online statistics, such as leaderboard scores, are synchronized across platforms when logged in with the same Microsoft account.
Forza Horizon 5 represents Microsoft's latest effort to bring Xbox games to rival consoles, part of a broader multiplatform strategy that promises more cross-platform releases in the coming months.
