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 in order to play Forza Horizon 5 on PS5. This process begins the first time you start up the game on your console." This mirrors the account linking requirement 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 the reliance on a Microsoft account raise questions about long-term accessibility, particularly if Microsoft discontinues account linking or a player loses access to their account. These concerns are amplified by the digital-only distribution of the PS5 version.

This situation echoes the controversy surrounding Helldivers 2 on PC, where a mandatory PSN account link was initially required but later reversed following player backlash. While Sony subsequently offered bonuses for linking accounts, the Forza Horizon 5 situation presents a different scenario.

Player reaction to the Forza Horizon 5 Microsoft account requirement on PS5 is mixed. Many are curious about cross-progression, but 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 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, online statistics linked to a Microsoft account will synchronize across platforms.

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