There's simply nothing on the PlayStation 5 that quite captures the essence of Forza Horizon 5. The Crew Motorfest comes close, embracing a festival vibe that echoes the Forza Horizon series more than its own predecessors. However, Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown misses the mark; while it owes much to the original Test Drive Unlimited's pioneering MMO racing, Solar Crown's always-online requirement without a dedicated solo mode contrasts sharply with Horizon's seamless transition between offline and online play since Forza Horizon 2. Need for Speed Unbound, with its standout customization, outshines Horizon in some respects, but its focus on high-speed chases sets it apart from a direct comparison.
No other game matches the open-world racing experience of Forza Horizon 5, now available on PlayStation 5 for the first time. Its vast and stunning Mexico map, the joy of drift-friendly vehicle dynamics, and an expansive garage with over 900 cars—including cult favorites not found elsewhere—immerse PlayStation users in a comprehensive gaming experience.
The excitement surrounding this launch has been palpable. Playground Games' art director, Don Arceta, is thrilled about the influx of new players. "Yeah, I’m super excited," he says. "For many, this will probably be their first Forza Horizon game. It's exciting to think about what our first Horizon experiences were like."
Arceta is particularly eager to see what PlayStation 5 players will create using Forza Horizon 5's Event Lab, a powerful set of customization tools. "We have over 800 props now in the Event Lab, and just seeing what the community's done with that feature and mode – the creativity of the community – it's just mind-blowing," he adds. "I’m super excited about what PlayStation 5 users will build and the creativity that will come from that community."
"You’ll actually get some pretty good Halo content too on the PlayStation, with the Event Lab props!"
The port to PlayStation 5, developed by Panic Button in collaboration with Turn 10 and Playground Games, maintains the high technical standards of its Xbox and PC versions. "It was quite a huge task," Arceta acknowledges, praising Panic Button's efforts. "So you get that amazing, quality experience that you get on Xbox and PC – now you get on the PlayStation, and it’s just amazing work that Panic Button has done."
As a car enthusiast, the Forza series, with its vast array of unique and beloved vehicles, feels like the ultimate Hot Wheels collection. The possibility of new players discovering their favorite cars in Forza Horizon 5 is especially thrilling.
Lead game designer David Orton emphasizes the game's breadth. "The breadth of Horizon is quite staggering," he says. "Players go in and find what they really enjoy, and because there’s so much freedom, that can really be whatever you want it to be."
"Horizon is the space where really everyone is welcome, and there’s something in it for everyone," Orton continues. "We always pride ourselves on giving the player that kind of agency and freedom to do whatever they want, and the game will reward them and react in that way. I’m really looking forward to players discovering the breadth of the content."
Arceta hopes for a sense of surprise and delight among new players. "For me, a victory would be, like, 'I can’t believe I’ve never played this game before,'" he says. "That, for me, is a victory, because once they’re surprised, they’re engaged – and they want to learn more."
Orton agrees, anticipating the joy of new players discovering Forza Horizon 5. "Players who’ve never tried Horizon before – whether that’s because it’s on a different platform, or they’ve just never had the time to do it – to actually jump into this world and realize that it’s actually a really warm, welcoming place that’s full of fun, and finding a home at Horizon," he says.
"Players who’ve never played before realizing that, 'Oh my goodness, how have I never played this game before? This is incredible.' That, to me, is a win," Orton concludes. "We’re about to target a cohort of players who may have never played a Forza title before. We feel so excited to bring this to PlayStation. I think we’re going to bring in a whole load of new players and that’s really exciting."
For racing game enthusiasts, a significant barrier has been removed with Forza Horizon 5's arrival on PlayStation 5. Here's hoping it's the first of many such walls to come down.
