Forza Horizon 5 on PS5 Requires a Microsoft Account, as Other Xbox Games on Sony’s Consoles Do

Microsoft has officially confirmed that playing *Forza Horizon 5* on the PlayStation 5 requires players to have a Microsoft account in addition to their PSN account. This requirement was detailed in an FAQ on the Forza support website, which states that the linking process is initiated the first time you boot up the game on your PS5. This practice aligns with Microsoft's approach to other Xbox titles released on Sony's platform, such as *Minecraft*, *Grounded*, and *Sea of Thieves*.

However, this decision has sparked some controversy. The organization *Does it play?*, dedicated to ensuring the accessibility and preservation of games and hardware, expressed concerns on Twitter. They argued that the mandatory Microsoft account linking could jeopardize the long-term preservation of the PS5 version of *Forza Horizon 5*. Their worry is that if Microsoft were to discontinue its account linking service in the future without updating the game, the PS5 version could become unplayable. Additionally, there's a risk that players might 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 available only digitally on PS5, with no physical disc version planned.

The situation echoes a recent controversy where Sony initially required PC players of *Helldivers 2* to link a PSN account, a decision that was later reversed due to significant backlash. In contrast, Sony has since announced that linking a PSN account is no longer mandatory for some of its PC games, though it offers incentives for those who choose to do so.

The reaction among the PS5 community to the *Forza Horizon 5* Microsoft account requirement has been mixed. Many players are curious about whether the game supports cross-progression, given the mandatory account linking. Unfortunately, the FAQ clarifies that *Forza Horizon 5* on PS5 does not support cross-progression with Xbox or PC versions. Microsoft noted that this is consistent with the behavior between the 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, editing is only possible on the original creation profile. Some online statistics, such as leaderboard scores, are synchronized across platforms if players log in with the same Microsoft account.

*Forza Horizon 5* marks another step in Microsoft's strategy to bring Xbox games to rival consoles, a trend that is expected to continue in the coming months.