Forza Horizon 5 will require a Microsoft account on PS5.
The game will not work without it.
The PS5 version of Forza Horizon 5 will require players to link a Microsoft account with their PlayStation Network account in order to enjoy the game. This is detailed in the FAQ section of the game's official website. Users will receive a notification to perform this linking the first time they launch the game. If they choose to unlink their accounts later, they will only be able to re-establish the connection with the same Microsoft account they initially linked.
This requirement is unfavorable considering that there is no option to save progress across platforms. Therefore, progress made in the PS5 version will not transfer to the Xbox version, a situation that also applies to the Steam version. Additionally, players will need a PlayStation Plus subscription to access the multiplayer features of the game, and there have been no announcements regarding a physical release in disc format.
Forza Horizon 5, which will launch on PS5 on April 29, adds to the list of Xbox exclusives that have found their way to Sony's console, joining titles like Sea of Thieves, which also requires linking a Microsoft account for access.
Historically, players have shown resistance to mandatory account linking, especially when Sony has implemented this practice. In fact, the company recently eliminated the requirement to log in with a PSN account in some PC versions of certain titles, including Helldivers 2, God of War Ragnarök, and Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered.
