Playing Forza Horizon 5 on PlayStation 5 requires a Microsoft account, as confirmed by Microsoft. This is detailed in their Forza support FAQ: "Yes, in addition to a PSN account, you’ll need to link a Microsoft account to play Forza Horizon 5 on PS5. This begins when you first start the game." This policy aligns with other Xbox games on PlayStation, including Minecraft, Grounded, and Sea of Thieves.
This requirement has sparked controversy. Concerns exist regarding long-term game accessibility. Some worry that if Microsoft discontinues account linking or a player loses access to their Microsoft account, the game could become unplayable. This concern is amplified by the game's digital-only release on PS5; there's no physical disc version.
This situation echoes the backlash against Sony's now-reversed requirement for PSN account linking in Helldivers 2 on PC. While Sony eventually removed the requirement, offering bonuses for linked accounts, the Forza Horizon 5 situation remains unchanged.
Player reaction to the Microsoft account link is mixed, with many questioning cross-progression. Unfortunately, the FAQ clarifies that Forza Horizon 5 on PS5 does *not* support save file transfers from Xbox or PC. This mirrors the separate save file structure 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, some online statistics, like leaderboard scores, synchronize with the same Microsoft account.
Forza Horizon 5's PlayStation release exemplifies Microsoft's broader multi-platform strategy, suggesting more such releases are likely in the future.
