To play Forza Horizon 5 on PlayStation 5, you'll need a Microsoft account in addition to your PlayStation Network account, as confirmed by Forza support. This requirement mirrors the policy for other Xbox games on PlayStation, such as Minecraft, Grounded, and Sea of Thieves. The process of linking accounts begins when you first launch the game.
This policy has sparked debate, with some expressing concern about long-term game preservation. The digital-only release on PS5 fuels this concern, as there's no physical disc backup. Players worry about potential unplayability if Microsoft discontinues account linking or if they lose access to their linked Microsoft account.
While Sony previously faced criticism and reversed a similar PSN account linking requirement for Helldivers 2 on PC after player backlash, the reaction to the Forza Horizon 5 requirement is mixed. Many PS5 players are also curious about cross-progression.
Unfortunately, Forza Horizon 5 on PS5 does not support cross-progression with Xbox or PC versions. Save files are platform-specific and not synchronized. However, user-generated content (UGC) can be published on one platform and downloaded on another, though editing is only possible on the original save profile. Online statistics, such as leaderboard scores, are synchronized if you use the same Microsoft account across platforms.
Forza Horizon 5's release on PlayStation 5 is part of Microsoft's broader multiplatform strategy, suggesting more Xbox games on rival consoles are likely in the future.
