To play Forza Horizon 5 on PlayStation 5, you'll need a Microsoft account in addition to your PlayStation Network account, as confirmed by Forza support. This requirement aligns with other Xbox games on PlayStation, such as Minecraft, Grounded, and Sea of Thieves. The process of linking accounts begins upon first launching the game.
This policy has sparked debate, with concerns raised about long-term accessibility. Some worry that if Microsoft discontinues account linking or a player loses access to their Microsoft account, the game may become unplayable. This concern is heightened by the game's digital-only release on PS5; there's no physical disc version. Similar controversy surrounded Helldivers 2 on PC, requiring a PSN account link, a decision Sony later reversed.
While Forza Horizon 5 on PS5 requires a Microsoft account, it does not offer cross-progression with Xbox or PC versions. Save files are separate and not synchronized across platforms. However, you can share user-generated content (UGC) between platforms; editing, though, is limited to the original save profile. Some online statistics, such as leaderboard scores, will synchronize if you use the same Microsoft account.
Forza Horizon 5 represents Microsoft's continued multiplatform expansion, with more such releases expected.
