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

Microsoft has officially confirmed that to play *Forza Horizon 5* on the PlayStation 5, players will need to have a Microsoft account in addition to a PSN account. This requirement was outlined 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 aligns with the account linking policy seen in other Xbox games released on Sony's console, such as Minecraft, Grounded, and Sea of Thieves.

This decision has stirred some controversy, particularly among preservation advocates. The group Does it play? expressed concern on Twitter, stating that the requirement "basically kills preservation for the PS5 version of Forza Horizon 5." The worry is that the game might become unplayable in the future if Microsoft discontinues the account linking process without an alternative solution. Additionally, there's a risk that players could lose access to their game if they lose access to their Microsoft account. This concern is heightened by the fact that *Forza Horizon 5* will be released digitally on PS5, with no physical disc version planned.

The backlash against similar policies isn't new. Sony faced criticism for requiring PC players of *Helldivers 2* to link a PSN account, a decision that was later reversed due to public outcry. In January, Sony announced that linking a PSN account would no longer be mandatory for some of its PC games, though it offered incentives for those who chose to link their accounts.

The response from the PS5 community to the Microsoft account requirement for *Forza Horizon 5* has been mixed. Many players are curious about cross-progression, given the mandatory Microsoft account link. However, the FAQ clarifies that *Forza Horizon 5* on PS5 does not support save file transfers from Xbox or PC. This is consistent with the game's behavior between Xbox and Steam versions, where game files remain separate and unsynchronized.

While user-generated content (UGC) can be published on one platform and downloaded on another, it can only be edited on the platform where it was originally created. Some online statistics, like leaderboard scores, are synchronized across platforms as long as the player logs in with the same Microsoft account.

*Forza Horizon 5* is part of Microsoft's broader strategy to expand its multiplatform presence, with more Xbox games expected to launch on rival consoles in the coming months.