Forza Horizon 5 on PlayStation 5 requires players to have a Microsoft account, as confirmed by the company. This requirement is detailed in a FAQ 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 policy aligns with other Xbox games released on Sony’s console, such as Minecraft, Grounded, and Sea of Thieves.

However, this decision has stirred some controversy. The organization Does it play?, dedicated to ensuring the accessibility of games and hardware, expressed concerns via Twitter, suggesting that the requirement "basically kills preservation for the PS5 version of Forza Horizon 5." The worry is that if Microsoft were to discontinue the account linking process in the future without updating the game to remove this dependency, Forza Horizon 5 could become unplayable, even for those who have purchased it. Additionally, there's a concern that players might lose access to their linked Microsoft account, rendering the game inaccessible. This concern is heightened by the fact that Forza Horizon 5 will be released digitally on PS5, with no plans for a physical disc version.

The controversy around account linking isn't new to gaming. Sony faced backlash for requiring PC players of Arrowhead’s Helldivers 2 to link a PSN account, but eventually reversed this decision following online outcry. In January, Sony also announced that players would no longer need to link a PSN account to enjoy some of its PC games, though they offered bonuses for those who chose to do so.

The response from the PS5 community to the Forza Horizon 5 Microsoft account news has been mixed, with many players questioning whether the game supports cross-progression. Unfortunately, the FAQ confirms that Forza Horizon 5 for PS5 does not support cross-progression; save files from Xbox or PC cannot be carried over. Microsoft clarified that this is consistent with the behavior between the Xbox and Steam versions, where game files are separate and not synchronized.

While user-generated content (UGC) can be published on one platform and downloaded to play on another, editing is only possible on the platform where it was originally created. Some online statistics, like leaderboard scores, are synchronized if you use the same Microsoft account across platforms, according to the company.

Forza Horizon 5 marks another step in Microsoft’s multiplatform strategy, bringing Xbox games to rival consoles. Expect more such releases in the coming months.