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 just a PSN account but also a linked Microsoft account. This requirement was detailed 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 mirrors the approach taken with other Xbox titles on 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 via X (formerly Twitter) that the necessity of a Microsoft account could jeopardize the long-term accessibility of the PS5 version of Forza Horizon 5. There's a fear that if Microsoft were to discontinue the account linking feature in the future without updating the game, it might become unplayable. Additionally, players worry that losing access to their Microsoft account could render their game unplayable. The digital-only release of Forza Horizon 5 on PS5, with no plans for a physical version, adds to these concerns.

The requirement for a Microsoft account has led to questions about cross-progression within the PS5 community. Unfortunately, the FAQ clarifies that Forza Horizon 5 on PS5 does not support cross-progression; save files from Xbox or PC cannot be transferred. Microsoft has noted that this is consistent with the behavior between the Xbox and Steam versions of the game, where save files remain separate and unsynchronized. However, user-generated content (UGC) can be published on one platform and downloaded for play on another, though editing is limited to the original profile it was created on. 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 strategy to expand its games across multiple platforms, a trend that is expected to continue in the coming months.

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This account linking requirement echoes a similar move by Sony, which initially mandated a PSN account for PC players of Helldivers 2, a decision that was later reversed following significant backlash. In January, Sony announced that it would no longer require players to link a PSN account to play certain PC games, although they offered incentives for those who chose to do so.