Forza Horizon 5 on PlayStation 5 requires a Microsoft account, as confirmed by the company. This requirement was detailed in a FAQ on the Forza support website, stating, "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 is consistent with other Xbox games released on Sony's console, such as Minecraft, Grounded, and Sea of Thieves.
The policy has sparked some controversy. The preservation advocacy group, Does it play?, expressed concerns via a tweet that this requirement "basically kills preservation for the PS5 version of Forza Horizon 5." Their concern stems from the potential that the game could become unplayable if Microsoft discontinues the account linking process without updating the game to be playable without a Microsoft account. Additionally, there are worries that if a player loses access to their Microsoft account, they might not be able to play Forza Horizon 5 on PS5. These concerns are heightened by the fact that Forza Horizon 5 will be released digitally on PS5, with no plans for a physical disc version.
The requirement for a Microsoft account echoes a similar situation with Arrowhead’s Helldivers 2, where Sony initially mandated a PSN account for PC players but reversed the decision after online backlash. In January, Sony adjusted its policy, announcing that gamers would no longer need to link a PSN account to enjoy some PC games, though they offered incentives for those who chose to do so.
The Forza Horizon 5 Microsoft account requirement has elicited a mixed response from the PS5 community, with many questioning the possibility of cross-progression. Unfortunately, the FAQ clarifies that Forza Horizon 5 for PS5 does not support save file transfers from Xbox or PC. Microsoft noted that this behavior is consistent with the game's performance between 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 is only possible on the original creation profile. Some online statistics, like leaderboard scores, are synchronized across platforms if players log in with the same Microsoft account, according to the company.
Forza Horizon 5 marks another step in Microsoft's multiplatform strategy, bringing Xbox games to rival consoles. More titles are expected to follow suit in the coming months.
