Forza Horizon 5 on PS5 Needs Microsoft Account, Like Other Xbox Games on Sony Consoles

Forza Horizon 5 on PlayStation 5 necessitates a Microsoft account, a detail the company has officially confirmed. This requirement is highlighted in an 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 the strategy used for other Xbox games on Sony's platform, such as Minecraft, Grounded, and Sea of Thieves.

The policy has stirred some controversy, particularly among preservation advocates. The group Does it play? expressed concern on Twitter, stating that this requirement "basically kills preservation for the PS5 version of Forza Horizon 5." Their worry stems from the possibility that the game could become unplayable if Microsoft were to discontinue its account linking service without updating the game. Furthermore, there's apprehension that players could lose access to the game if they can't access their linked Microsoft account. This concern is 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 within the PS5 community to the Microsoft account requirement has been varied, with many players curious about whether the game supports cross-progression. Unfortunately, the FAQ clarifies that Forza Horizon 5 on PS5 does not support save file transfers from Xbox or PC. Microsoft noted 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 on another, editing is only possible on the original creation profile. Some online statistics, such as leaderboard scores, are synchronized across platforms if players log in with the same Microsoft account.

Forza Horizon 5 marks another step in Microsoft's multiplatform strategy, bringing Xbox games to rival consoles. Expect more titles to follow suit in the coming months.