Microsoft has officially confirmed that playing Forza Horizon 5 on PlayStation 5 requires a Microsoft account in addition to a PSN account. This requirement was outlined in an FAQ on the Forza support website, stating that the process of linking a Microsoft account begins the first time you launch the game on your PS5 console. This approach aligns with other Xbox titles that have been made available on Sony’s platform, including popular games like Minecraft, Grounded, and Sea of Thieves.
This decision has sparked some controversy, particularly from groups like Does it play?, which advocates for the ongoing accessibility of games and hardware. They expressed concerns on social media that the need for a Microsoft account could jeopardize the preservation of the PS5 version of Forza Horizon 5. The worry is that should Microsoft decide to discontinue the account linking process in the future without making the game independently playable, the game could become inaccessible to those who have purchased it. Additionally, if a player loses access to their Microsoft account, they might no longer be able to play the game. This concern is heightened by the fact that Forza Horizon 5 will be available exclusively as a digital download on PS5, with no physical disc version planned.
The controversy surrounding account linking isn't new; Sony faced similar backlash when it initially required PC players of Helldivers 2 to link a PSN account. After significant online opposition, Sony reversed this decision in January, stating that players would no longer need to link a PSN account to play certain PC games, though they offered incentives for those who chose to do so.
The reaction within the PS5 community to the Forza Horizon 5 Microsoft account requirement has been mixed, with many players curious about the potential for cross-progression. Unfortunately, the FAQ clarifies that Forza Horizon 5 on PS5 does not support cross-progression with Xbox or PC versions; save files from other platforms cannot be transferred. Microsoft noted that this policy is consistent across the Xbox and Steam versions of the game, where game files remain separate and unsynchronized.
However, players can upload user-generated content (UGC) on one platform and download it to play on another, though editing this content is only possible on the original creation profile. Some online features, such as leaderboard scores, are synchronized across platforms if the same Microsoft account is used.
Forza Horizon 5 marks another step in Microsoft’s strategy to expand its game offerings to rival consoles as part of a broader multiplatform initiative. Gamers can expect to see more Xbox titles coming to other platforms in the near future.
