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

Forza Horizon 5 on the PlayStation 5 requires players to have a Microsoft account, a policy confirmed via an FAQ on the Forza support website. The statement reads, "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 requirement aligns with other Xbox titles released on Sony's platform, such as Minecraft, Grounded, and Sea of Thieves.

The necessity of a Microsoft account has stirred controversy among some players. The organization Does it play?, dedicated to ensuring the accessibility of games and hardware, tweeted that this policy "basically kills preservation for the PS5 version of Forza Horizon 5." Their concern stems from the possibility that the game might become unplayable if Microsoft discontinues the account linking process without updating the game to be playable without it. There's also apprehension that players could lose access to the game if they lose their linked Microsoft account, especially since Forza Horizon 5 on PS5 will only be available digitally, with no physical disc version planned.

This isn't the first time such a policy has caused a stir. Sony previously required PC players of Helldivers 2 to link a PSN account, but reversed the decision due to online backlash. In January, Sony announced that gamers would no longer need to link a PSN account to play some of its PC games, though they offered bonuses for those who did.

The response from the PS5 community to Forza Horizon 5's Microsoft account requirement has been varied, with many questioning if the game supports cross-progression. According to the FAQ, Forza Horizon 5 on PS5 does not support save file transfers from Xbox or PC. Microsoft clarified that this is consistent with the behavior between the Xbox and Steam versions, where game files remain separate and unsynchronized.

However, user-generated content (UGC) can be published on one platform and downloaded to play on another, though editing is only possible on the original creation profile. Some online statistics, like leaderboard scores, are synchronized across platforms when logged in with the same Microsoft account.

Forza Horizon 5 marks another step in Microsoft's strategy to release Xbox games on rival consoles, with more multiplatform releases expected in the coming months.