Summary
The upcoming PlayStation 5 version ofForza Horizon 5has been confirmed to require a Microsoft account. While this mandate isn’t entirely unexpected, it has raised long-term preservation concerns aboutForza Horizon 5among some PlayStation users.
Arguably the most-anticipated multiplatform Xbox release so far,Forza Horizon 5will officially hit PS5 on April 29. The critically-acclaimed open-world racer will offer full crossplay functionality between PS5, Xbox, and PC, as well as substantial visual upgrades for PS5 Pro users and lots of pre-order bonuses, including four-day early access for Premium Edition buyers. Being a multiplayer game from Microsoft, though,Forza Horizon 5’s PS5 port will come part and parcel with a potentially contentious requirement.
As per anFAQ on the official Forza Support website,Forza Horizon 5will require PS5 users to link a Microsoft accountbefore they dive into the open-world racer. Upon booting upForza Horizon 5on PS5, players will be prompted to sign in with their Microsoft account, which will then be linked with their PlayStation Network account. Interestingly, even if a player has previously used their Microsoft account for multiplayer Xbox games likeSea of Thieves, they will need to repeat the process specifically forForza Horizon 5.
The FAQ also notes that while unlinking is possible, players can only re-link the specific Microsoft account they initially used forForza Horizon 5on PS5, which has set off some alarm bells in the PlayStation community with regard to game preservation. SinceForza Horizon 5relies on Microsoft’s account services, some PlayStation fans are concerned that if the linking system were ever taken offline, the game could become unplayable on PS5. Adding to these concerns is Microsoft’s decision to forgo aphysical release forForza Horizon 5’s PS5version, leaving no alternative method to access the game beyond digital distribution.
Microsoft has defended its position in the past by stating that mandatory account linking is necessary for cross-platform functionality, and many feel that it’s valid if the company is upfront about it from the very beginning. The latter notion was proved by the furor around Sony’s sudden implementation of aPSN account requirement forHelldivers 2in 2024, which ultimately led to the gaming giant backtracking on the mandate. While some PS5 players looking forward toForza Horizon 5may not be happy about the mandatory Microsoft account login, at least they were informed well in advance.
