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

Microsoft has officially confirmed that playing *Forza Horizon 5* on the PlayStation 5 requires not only a PSN account but also a linked Microsoft account. This information was disclosed in a FAQ section on the Forza support website, which states, "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 that have made their way to Sony’s platform, such as *Minecraft*, *Grounded*, and *Sea of Thieves*.

This policy has stirred some controversy, particularly among advocates for game preservation. The organization "Does it play?" expressed concerns on social media, stating that this requirement "basically kills preservation for the PS5 version of Forza Horizon 5." Their worry stems from the possibility that the game could become unplayable in the future if Microsoft were to discontinue the account linking feature without updating the game to function independently. Additionally, there are concerns about the game's accessibility if a player loses access to their Microsoft account. These concerns are compounded by the fact that *Forza Horizon 5* will be available only digitally on PS5, with no physical disc release planned.

The situation echoes a recent controversy with Sony's *Helldivers 2*, where a requirement to link a PSN account for PC players was met with significant backlash and eventually reversed. In contrast, Sony later announced that some of its PC games no longer require a PSN account, though it still offers incentives for those who choose to link one. The reaction from the PS5 community to the Microsoft account requirement for *Forza Horizon 5* has been varied, with many players questioning whether the game supports cross-progression.

Unfortunately, the FAQ confirms that *Forza Horizon 5* on PS5 does not support cross-progression; save files from Xbox or PC cannot be carried over. Microsoft noted that this is consistent with the behavior between the Xbox and Steam versions of the game, where game files remain separate and unsynchronized. However, user-generated content (UGC) can be published on one platform and downloaded on another, though editing is only possible on the original creation platform. Some online statistics, such as leaderboard scores, are synchronized across platforms when using the same Microsoft account.

*Forza Horizon 5* marks another step in Microsoft's multiplatform strategy, bringing Xbox titles to rival consoles. As this trend continues, we can expect more Xbox games to launch on other platforms in the coming months.