Forza Horizon 5 on PlayStation 5 requires players to have a Microsoft account, a policy that has been officially confirmed by the company. According to a FAQ on the Forza support website, "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 decision to mandate a Microsoft account has sparked some controversy. The organization Does it play?, dedicated to ensuring the accessibility and preservation of games and hardware, expressed concerns on Twitter, stating that this requirement "basically kills preservation for the PS5 version of Forza Horizon 5." The worry stems from the possibility that the game could become unplayable if Microsoft discontinues the account linking process in the future without updating the game to function independently. Additionally, there's a risk that players might lose access to their game if they can't access their Microsoft account. This concern is heightened by the fact that Forza Horizon 5 will be available only digitally on PS5, with no physical disc version planned.
The requirement for a Microsoft account has drawn comparisons to Sony's recent policy changes. Sony faced backlash for initially requiring PC players of Arrowhead’s Helldivers 2 to link a PSN account, a decision that was later reversed due to community outcry. In January, Sony announced that linking a PSN account would no longer be mandatory for some of its PC games, though it offered incentives for those who chose to do so.
The reaction among the PS5 community to the Forza Horizon 5 Microsoft account requirement has been mixed, with many players questioning 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.
While user-generated content (UGC) can be published on one platform and downloaded on another, editing is only possible on the original creation profile. Some online statistics, such as 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 bring Xbox games to rival consoles, a trend that is expected to continue in the coming months.
