Is Forza Horizon 5 On PS5?

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If you have a PS5 and have been wondering, “Is Forza Horizon 5 on PS5?”, the answer is yes—and it is no longer a future release or rumor. Forza Horizon 5 officially launched on PlayStation 5 on April 29, 2025, bringing the full open-world racing experience to Sony’s console.

That sounds simple, but there are a few important details that can easily cause confusion. The PS5 version is a separate purchase, you need to connect a Microsoft account, and your existing Xbox or PC save does not transfer to PS5. On the positive side, PS5 players can race with friends on Xbox and PC through cross-play, and the game supports both 60fps Performance mode and 30fps Quality mode.

So if you are deciding whether Forza Horizon 5 is worth buying on PS5, this guide covers what actually matters: performance, editions, multiplayer, cross-progression, DualSense support, DLC, PlayStation Plus requirements, and the situations where buying it on PS5 makes the most sense.

Yes, Forza Horizon 5 is on PS5

Forza Horizon 5 became available on PS5 on April 29, 2025. Players who purchased the Premium Edition received early access beginning April 25. The PS5 release was developed by Panic Button in partnership with Turn 10 Studios and Playground Games.

This is not a stripped-down version of the game.

The PS5 release contains the same core game and previously released content available on other platforms. That includes the huge Mexico open world, hundreds of cars, events, Horizon Festival activities, creative tools, and the game’s major expansions.

For someone who has never played Forza Horizon 5, this is particularly important: you are not arriving years late to a smaller version of the game. You are getting access to an established game with a large amount of accumulated content.

Is it the full Forza Horizon 5?

Yes.

The PS5 version includes the base game and free content and feature updates. Additional paid content, including the Hot Wheels and Rally Adventure expansions, is also available on PlayStation.

That makes the PS5 version much closer to the Xbox and PC experience than some players initially expected.

How does Forza Horizon 5 run on PS5?

One of the biggest questions for PS5 owners is performance.

The game provides two main rendering modes:

Performance Mode: targets 60fps
Quality Mode: targets 30fps

These modes are available on both PS5 and PS5 Pro. On PS5 Pro, the game receives additional visual improvements, including ray-traced car reflections in Quality mode.

For most players, Performance Mode is the better starting point.

Why? Forza Horizon 5 is not simply a game where you stare at a car in a garage. You are constantly steering, braking, accelerating, drifting and reacting to the road. The extra responsiveness of 60fps can make the game feel considerably better during fast driving.

Quality Mode is more attractive if your priority is visual fidelity and you are comfortable sacrificing frame rate.

What about PS5 DualSense features?

The PS5 version supports DualSense vibration and adaptive trigger effects. These features are used to communicate things such as wheel slip, braking thresholds and changes in road surfaces.

This is a useful detail that is easy to overlook.

The controller isn’t merely functioning as a generic gamepad. When tuned to your preference, the feedback can give you additional physical cues while driving.

However, serious racing enthusiasts should still remember that controller feedback isn’t a substitute for a proper force-feedback wheel. The PS5 version does support compatible racing-wheel setups, although exact compatibility can vary by hardware.

Can you play Forza Horizon 5 with Xbox and PC players?

Yes.

This is one of the strongest reasons the PS5 release works well for multiplayer. Forza Horizon 5 supports cross-play between PS5, Xbox consoles and PC, including the Microsoft Store and Steam versions.

So imagine this situation:

Your friend owns an Xbox Series X, another friend has a gaming PC, and you own a PS5.

You can still meet in Forza Horizon 5, create a convoy and drive together.

Cross-play is enabled by default, although it can be disabled through the relevant settings.

For online multiplayer on PS5, however, you need an active PlayStation Plus membership. Solo play and offline features do not require PlayStation Plus.

Do you need a Microsoft account on PS5?

Yes, and this is one of the most important things to know before buying.

Although you are playing on PlayStation, Forza Horizon 5 uses Microsoft’s online account infrastructure. You need a Microsoft account in addition to your PSN account. The game asks you to connect the two when you first launch it.

This is particularly relevant if you already have a Microsoft account from Xbox or PC.

Before starting, make sure you know which Microsoft account you want to connect.

The linking relationship is title-specific and has restrictions if you later try to change it. In other words, don’t casually connect a secondary Microsoft account just because it is convenient during setup.

Does Forza Horizon 5 support cross-save on PS5?

No. This is the biggest catch for existing Xbox and PC players.

If you have spent hundreds of hours playing Forza Horizon 5 on Xbox or PC, your complete save progression does not transfer to the PS5 version. The PS5 version has its own save profile.

That means you should not expect your:

Cars and garage progression
Accolade progression
Campaign progression
Local profile progression
Other platform-specific save data

to simply appear when you start the PS5 version.

This can be a major issue for longtime Xbox players.

But some statistics do carry over

There is an interesting distinction here.

Although your complete save does not transfer, certain Microsoft-account-linked statistics can appear across platforms. These include leaderboard information such as roads discovered, PR stunt records and Rivals times. Published user-generated content can also be accessible across platforms.

This creates an unusual experience: your history can partially follow your account, while your actual game progression does not.

That distinction is worth understanding before purchasing.

What happens if you already own Forza Horizon 5 on Xbox?

You still need to purchase the PS5 version.

The PS5 release is a standalone product rather than a free entitlement for people who already own the game elsewhere.

For example, suppose you bought Forza Horizon 5 years ago on Xbox.

Moving to PS5 does not give you a free PlayStation copy, and your Xbox save does not become your PS5 save.

You can still use the same Microsoft account for supported online and leaderboard features, and you can play with Xbox friends through cross-play. But you should think of the PS5 version as a separate platform version.

Which Forza Horizon 5 edition should you buy on PS5?

The PS5 release offers three main editions:

Standard Edition

This is the sensible option if you simply want the main game.

It includes the base Forza Horizon 5 experience and free content updates.

Choose it if:

You mainly want the open-world racing experience.
You don’t care about the paid expansions yet.
You want to keep the initial cost lower.
You prefer buying DLC later if you actually need it.

Deluxe Edition

The Deluxe Edition adds the Car Pass, which provides access to 42 additional cars.

This makes more sense for players who care strongly about collecting cars rather than simply completing races.

Premium Edition

Premium is the all-in option.

It includes the base game, Car Pass, VIP Membership, Welcome Pack and both major expansions: Hot Wheels and Rally Adventure.

If you already know you will spend a lot of time with Forza Horizon 5, Premium can be the more convenient choice because it packages the major paid content together.

Is Forza Horizon 5 worth playing on PS5?

For most PS5 owners who enjoy open-world racing, yes.

The strongest reason isn’t simply that the game is available. It’s the combination of:

A large open-world environment.
A huge selection of cars.
60fps Performance mode.
Cross-play with Xbox and PC.
DualSense support.
A substantial amount of post-launch content.
Multiple driving styles, from relaxed cruising to competitive racing.

It also occupies a useful middle ground.

You don’t need to approach it like a hardcore racing simulator. You can turn on assists, choose a favorite supercar and simply explore Mexico. At the same time, players who enjoy tuning, Rivals, drifting, racing lines and competitive driving can spend much more time learning the game’s deeper systems.

That flexibility is one of the game’s biggest strengths.

Three things many PS5 buyers overlook

1. Starting over can actually be a benefit

The lack of cross-save is frustrating for returning Xbox players, but it can be surprisingly positive for newcomers.

A fresh save means the game’s progression systems have room to introduce cars, events and activities gradually. If you previously rushed through the Xbox version years ago, starting again can feel more like rediscovering the game rather than simply downloading your old garage.

For a first-time PS5 player, this isn’t really a disadvantage at all.

2. Cross-play matters more than platform ownership

If your friends are divided between Xbox, PC and PlayStation, the PS5 version doesn’t isolate you from the existing Forza community.

This is particularly useful for groups that have mixed hardware. The platform you’re sitting on matters much less when everyone can join the same convoys.

3. The 60fps option changes how the game feels

Many buyers focus on graphics settings but underestimate frame rate.

In a racing game, responsiveness affects steering corrections, braking and judging corners. If you have a normal PS5 and are deciding between visual quality and responsiveness, Performance mode is generally the more practical choice for regular driving.

You can always switch modes when you want to appreciate the scenery.

Common mistakes PS5 players should avoid

Before starting Forza Horizon 5, keep these points in mind:

Don’t assume your Xbox save will transfer. It won’t. The PS5 save is separate.

Don’t connect the wrong Microsoft account casually. Account linking has restrictions, so decide which account you want to use before completing setup.

Don’t buy Premium automatically. If you only want the base game, Standard may be enough.

Don’t assume PlayStation Plus is required for everything. It is required for online multiplayer, but solo and offline features remain available without it.

Don’t expect a disc version. The official PS5 FAQ states that the game is available digitally through the PlayStation Store, with no planned disc release.

Is Forza Horizon 5 on PS5 Pro?

Yes.

The PS5 Pro version uses the same two broad rendering choices, but it receives additional graphical improvements. Quality mode adds ray-traced car reflections during races and free roam, while Performance mode improves visual fidelity while targeting 60fps.

If you own a PS5 Pro, the game is therefore capable of making better use of the hardware than the standard PS5 version.

Can you play Forza Horizon 5 on PlayStation Portal?

Yes, but there is an important distinction.

Forza Horizon 5 can be played on PlayStation Portal when it is streamed from your PS5 through local Remote Play. It is not a native PS Portal version.

This is useful if someone else is using the main TV and you want to continue driving from another room.

Does Forza Horizon 5 support PS VR2?

No.

The game does not have native PlayStation VR2 support. It can, however, be displayed through the PS VR2’s cinematic mode like other non-VR PS5 games.

So if you’re specifically buying it because you expect a VR racing experience, this is an important limitation.

FAQs

Is Forza Horizon 5 free on PS5?

No. The PS5 version is a standalone product that must be purchased. Owning the Xbox or PC version does not automatically give you the PS5 version.

Can PS5 players play Forza Horizon 5 with Xbox players?

Yes. Cross-play works between PS5, Xbox consoles and PC versions of the game. You can create or join convoys and race with friends on other supported platforms.

Does Forza Horizon 5 PS5 have cross-progression?

No, not for the main save progression. Your Xbox or PC save cannot be transferred to PS5, although certain leaderboard statistics and some user-generated content can be associated with your Microsoft account across platforms.

Do you need PS Plus to play Forza Horizon 5 on PS5?

You need an active PlayStation Plus membership for online multiplayer. You do not need PS Plus for solo play and offline features.

Does Forza Horizon 5 run at 60fps on PS5?

Yes. The PS5 version offers a Performance mode targeting 60fps and a Quality mode targeting 30fps. PS5 Pro also receives additional visual enhancements.

Is Forza Horizon 5 worth buying on PS5?

For most racing fans, yes. It offers the complete open-world game, substantial additional content, 60fps Performance mode, DualSense features and cross-play with Xbox and PC players. The biggest reason to hesitate is if you already have hundreds of hours on Xbox or PC and don’t want to restart your progression.

Final Verdict: Should you get Forza Horizon 5 on PS5?

Yes, if you want an open-world racing game on PS5, Forza Horizon 5 is a strong choice.

The PS5 release is a full version of the game rather than a reduced port. You get the massive Mexico map, a huge car roster, major expansions, 60fps Performance mode, DualSense support and cross-play with players on Xbox and PC.

The biggest catch is straightforward: your Xbox or PC save does not transfer to PS5. If you’re coming from another platform, you should be prepared to rebuild your progression.

For a new player, though, that limitation is much less important. If your friends are already playing on different platforms, the cross-play support makes PS5 an especially practical place to join the Horizon Festival.

In short, if you’ve been waiting for a Forza game on PlayStation, Forza Horizon 5 is now the real deal—not a compromise version. Just choose your Microsoft account carefully, decide whether you actually need the extra DLC, and use Performance mode if responsive driving matters more to you than maximum visual fidelity.