Forza Horizon 5 on PS5 Needs Microsoft Account, Like Other Xbox Games on Sony Consoles

Forza Horizon 5 on PlayStation 5 requires players to use a Microsoft account, a policy confirmed via an FAQ on the Forza support website. When you first boot up the game on your PS5, you'll need to link your PlayStation Network (PSN) account to a Microsoft account. This aligns with the approach seen in other Xbox titles on Sony's console, such as Minecraft, Grounded, and Sea of Thieves.

This requirement has sparked some controversy. The group "Does it play?"—which focuses on ensuring the accessibility of games and hardware—expressed concerns on Twitter, suggesting that this could "basically kill preservation for the PS5 version of Forza Horizon 5." The worry is that if Microsoft discontinues its account linking in the future without making the game playable without it, the game could become unplayable, even for those who have purchased it. Additionally, if players lose access to their Microsoft account, they might not be able to play the game. This issue is compounded by the fact that Forza Horizon 5 on PS5 is a digital-only release, with no physical disc version planned.

The situation echoes a recent controversy where Sony initially required PC players of Helldivers 2 to link a PSN account, a decision that was reversed after significant online backlash. In January, Sony adjusted its policy for some PC games, removing the mandatory PSN account linking but offering bonuses for those who opted to connect their accounts.

Reactions within the PS5 community to the Microsoft account requirement for Forza Horizon 5 have been varied, with many questioning whether the game supports cross-progression. According to the FAQ, Forza Horizon 5 on PS5 does not support transferring save files from Xbox or PC. Microsoft clarified that this is consistent with the behavior between the Xbox and Steam versions of the game, where game files remain separate and unsynchronized.

While user-generated content (UGC) can be published on one platform and downloaded for play on another, editing this content is only possible on the original creation profile. Some online statistics, like leaderboard scores, are synchronized across platforms if you log in with the same Microsoft account, Microsoft added.

Forza Horizon 5 represents the latest in Microsoft's strategy to release Xbox games on rival consoles, a move expected to continue with more titles in the coming months.