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

To play Forza Horizon 5 on PlayStation 5, you'll need a Microsoft account, in addition to your PlayStation Network account. This is confirmed on the official Forza support website FAQ. The linking process begins when you first start the game.

This requirement aligns with other Xbox games available on PlayStation, such as Minecraft, Grounded, and Sea of Thieves. However, this policy has sparked some controversy, particularly regarding game preservation. Concerns have been raised about the game's long-term accessibility should Microsoft discontinue account linking or if a player loses access to their Microsoft account. These concerns are amplified by the fact that Forza Horizon 5 on PS5 will be a digital-only release.

This situation echoes a previous controversy surrounding Helldivers 2, where a similar PSN account linking requirement for PC players was later reversed following online backlash. While Sony initially mandated PSN account linking for some PC games, they later reversed the policy, offering incentives for those who continued to link accounts.

Player reaction to the Forza Horizon 5 Microsoft account requirement has been mixed, with many questioning cross-progression. Unfortunately, the FAQ clarifies that save files are not transferable between Xbox, PC, and PS5 versions. While user-generated content (UGC) can be published on one platform and downloaded on another, editing is only possible on the original save profile. However, some online statistics, such as leaderboard scores, will synchronize if you use the same Microsoft account.

Forza Horizon 5's release on PlayStation 5 marks another step in Microsoft's multi-platform strategy. We can expect more Xbox games to launch on competing consoles in the future.