Microsoft has officially confirmed that playing *Forza Horizon 5* on the PlayStation 5 requires not only a PlayStation Network (PSN) account but also a linked Microsoft account. This requirement is highlighted in an FAQ section on the Forza support website, stating: “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 approach aligns with other Xbox titles that have been released on Sony’s console, such as *Minecraft*, *Grounded*, and *Sea of Thieves*.
The news has sparked some controversy, especially among preservation advocates. The group "Does it play?" expressed concerns on social media about the long-term accessibility of the PS5 version of *Forza Horizon 5*. They fear that if Microsoft ever decides to discontinue the account linking feature without updating the game to remove this requirement, the game could become unplayable for those who have purchased it. Additionally, there’s apprehension about what would happen if a player loses access to their Microsoft account. These concerns are heightened by the fact that *Forza Horizon 5* will be available only digitally on PS5, with no physical disc version planned.
This situation echoes a recent controversy involving Sony’s decision to require PC players of *Helldivers 2* to link a PSN account, which was later reversed due to significant backlash. In contrast, Sony has since announced that some of its PC games no longer require a PSN account, though they offer incentives for those who choose to link one.
The PS5 community's response to the *Forza Horizon 5* Microsoft account requirement has been varied, with many players curious about whether the game supports cross-progression. Unfortunately, the FAQ clarifies that *Forza Horizon 5* on PS5 does not support save file transfers from Xbox or PC. Microsoft noted that this is consistent with the behavior between the Xbox and Steam versions, where game files remain separate and unsynchronized.
However, players can publish user-generated content (UGC) on one platform and download it to play on another. Editing this content, though, is only possible on the original creation profile. Some online statistics, like leaderboard scores, are synchronized across platforms if players log in with the same Microsoft account.
*Forza Horizon 5* marks another step in Microsoft’s strategy to expand its games to rival consoles, a trend that is expected to continue in the coming months.
