Forza Horizon 5 on PS5 Requires a Microsoft Account, as Other Xbox Games on Sony’s Consoles Do

Microsoft has confirmed that playing *Forza Horizon 5* on the PlayStation 5 requires not only a PSN account but also a linked Microsoft account. This requirement is highlighted in the game's FAQ 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 aligns with the policy seen in other Xbox games released on Sony’s platform, such as *Minecraft*, *Grounded*, and *Sea of Thieves*.

However, this decision has sparked some controversy. The organization *Does it play?*, which focuses on ensuring long-term accessibility of games and hardware, expressed concerns about the preservation of the PS5 version of *Forza Horizon 5*. They worry that if Microsoft ever discontinues its account linking process without updating the game, the title could become unplayable. There's also the risk of the game becoming inaccessible if players lose access to their Microsoft accounts. This concern is heightened by the fact that *Forza Horizon 5* will be released digitally on PS5 without a physical disc option.

This isn't the first time such a requirement has stirred debate. Sony faced backlash and eventually reversed its decision to require a PSN account for PC players of *Helldivers 2*. Following this, in January, Sony announced that linking a PSN account would no longer be necessary for some of its PC games, though they offered incentives for those who chose to do so.

The PS5 community's response 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, mirroring the separation between Xbox and Steam versions of the game. While user-generated content (UGC) can be published on one platform and downloaded on another, it can only be edited on the original creation profile. However, some online statistics, like leaderboard scores, are synchronized across platforms when using the same Microsoft account.

*Forza Horizon 5* marks another step in Microsoft's strategy to expand its games to rival consoles as part of its multiplatform initiative, with more titles expected to follow suit in the coming months.