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 not only a PSN account but also a linked Microsoft account. This requirement was detailed in a FAQ on the Forza support website, stating, "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 approach taken for other Xbox titles released on Sony's platform, such as *Minecraft*, *Grounded*, and *Sea of Thieves*.

However, this policy has sparked some controversy. The organization Does it play?, dedicated to ensuring the accessibility and preservation of games and hardware, expressed concerns on Twitter, stating that this 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, *Forza Horizon 5* could become unplayable for PS5 owners. Additionally, there's a risk that players could lose access to the 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 reaction within the PS5 community to this news has been mixed, with many players curious about whether the game supports cross-progression due to the mandatory Microsoft account link. 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 platform where it was created. 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.