Playing Forza Horizon 5 on PlayStation 5 requires a Microsoft account, as confirmed by Microsoft. This is detailed in a Forza support FAQ: "Yes, in addition to a PSN account, you’ll need to link to a Microsoft account to play Forza Horizon 5 on PS5. This process starts when you first launch the game." This mirrors the account linking requirement for other Xbox games on PlayStation, including Minecraft, Grounded, and Sea of Thieves.

This policy has sparked some controversy. Concerns have been raised regarding game preservation, particularly the potential for Forza Horizon 5 to become unplayable if Microsoft discontinues account linking or if a player loses access to their linked Microsoft account. This concern is heightened by the game's digital-only release on PS5; there's no physical disc version.

This situation echoes the backlash against Sony's now-reversed requirement for PSN account linking in Helldivers 2 on PC. While Sony initially mandated linking, they later reversed this decision following online criticism, offering bonuses for those who still linked accounts.

Player reaction to the Forza Horizon 5 Microsoft account requirement has been mixed. Many are questioning cross-progression. The FAQ clarifies that Forza Horizon 5 on PS5 does *not* support save file transfers from Xbox or PC versions. This is consistent with the separate save file structure between Xbox and Steam versions. However, user-generated content (UGC) can be shared between platforms; editing, however, is only possible on the original save profile. Online statistics, such as leaderboard scores, are synchronized if the same Microsoft account is used.

Forza Horizon 5's PS5 release is another example of Microsoft's broader multi-platform strategy. Expect more such releases in the future.