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 game preservation. The fear is that if Microsoft discontinues account linking in the future without updating the game, or if a player loses access to their Microsoft account, the PS5 version of Forza Horizon 5 could become unplayable. This concern is heightened by the fact that the game is a digital-only release on PS5. Similar controversy surrounded Helldivers 2 on PC, where a PSN account link requirement was later reversed following player backlash.
While the Forza Horizon 5 PS5 version requires a Microsoft account, it does not offer cross-progression with Xbox or PC versions. Save files are separate and not synchronized across platforms. However, you can share user-generated content (UGC) between platforms; editing, though, is only possible on the original save profile. Some online statistics, such as leaderboard scores, will sync if you use the same Microsoft account across platforms.
Forza Horizon 5's PlayStation release is part of Microsoft's broader strategy to bring Xbox games to multiple platforms. Expect more such releases in the future.
