Forza Horizon 5 on PS5 Requires a Microsoft Account, as Other Xbox Games on Sony’s Consoles Do

Playing Forza Horizon 5 on PlayStation 5 requires a Microsoft account, as confirmed by Microsoft. This is detailed in a Forza support FAQ: "Yes, in addition to a PSN account, you’ll need to link to a Microsoft account to play Forza Horizon 5 on PS5. This begins when you first start the game." This aligns with the account linking required for other Xbox games on PlayStation, including Minecraft, Grounded, and Sea of Thieves.

This policy has sparked debate, with some expressing concern about game preservation. The lack of a physical disc version and reliance on a Microsoft account raise worries about long-term accessibility. Concerns exist about the game becoming unplayable if Microsoft discontinues account linking or if players lose access to their linked Microsoft account.

This situation echoes a previous controversy surrounding Helldivers 2 on PC, where a mandatory PSN account link was later reversed following player backlash. While Sony subsequently removed the PSN account requirement for some PC games, offering incentives for those who chose to link accounts, the Forza Horizon 5 situation remains.

Player reaction to the Forza Horizon 5 Microsoft account requirement has been mixed, with many questioning cross-progression. The FAQ clarifies that Forza Horizon 5 on PS5 does *not* support save file transfers from Xbox or PC. This is consistent with the separate save files between Xbox and Steam versions. While user-generated content (UGC) can be shared between platforms, editing is only possible on the original save profile. However, online statistics linked to the same Microsoft account will be synchronized.

Forza Horizon 5's PlayStation release is part of Microsoft's broader multi-platform strategy, suggesting more such releases are likely in the future.