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

Forza Horizon 5's arrival on PlayStation 5 comes with a requirement that has sparked both interest and debate. To dive into the vibrant world of this racing game on your PS5, you'll need more than just a PlayStation Network (PSN) account; a Microsoft account is also essential. This dual-account setup is confirmed 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 policy aligns with other Xbox titles that have made their way to Sony's platform, such as Minecraft, Grounded, and Sea of Thieves. However, the requirement has stirred controversy among some players. The preservation advocacy group, Does it play?, voiced concerns over the long-term accessibility of the PS5 version of Forza Horizon 5. They argue that if Microsoft ever decides to discontinue its account linking service without providing an alternative way to play, the game could become unplayable, even for those who have purchased it. Additionally, if a player loses access to their Microsoft account, they might find themselves locked out of their game. The absence of a physical disc version for the PS5 release further amplifies these concerns.

The reaction from the PS5 community has been mixed, with many players curious about whether Forza Horizon 5 supports cross-progression. Unfortunately, the FAQ clarifies that save files from Xbox or PC do not transfer to the PS5 version. Microsoft noted that this is consistent with the separation between Xbox and Steam versions, where game files are not synchronized. While user-generated content (UGC) can be shared across platforms, editing is restricted to the original creation profile. Some online stats, like leaderboard scores, do sync if you use the same Microsoft account across platforms.

Forza Horizon 5 marks another step in Microsoft's strategy to expand its gaming presence across rival consoles. As part of this multiplatform push, we can expect more Xbox titles to make their way to other systems in the coming months.

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The requirement for a Microsoft account in Forza Horizon 5 on PS5 echoes recent controversies in the gaming community. Sony faced backlash for initially requiring PC players of Arrowhead’s Helldivers 2 to link a PSN account, a policy they later reversed. In January, Sony announced that linking a PSN account would no longer be mandatory for some of its PC games, although they offered incentives for those who chose to do so.