The open-world racing game Forza Horizon 5 is now available on PlayStation 5 consoles, expanding its reach beyond Xbox platforms and PC for the first time since its initial launch in 2021. This move marks a departure for the franchise, historically a first-party exclusive for Xbox.
Playground Games developed the original title, but the PlayStation 5 port was handled by Panic Button. Bringing the game, built on a proprietary engine tailored for the Xbox environment, to a different console architecture presented a considerable technical undertaking.
Despite the challenges of adapting the game to a foreign ecosystem, reviews suggest the port is a success. The PlayStation 5 version maintains the visual quality of the game, matching the fidelity seen on Xbox Series X.
Content parity was a priority for the new release. Players on PlayStation 5 have access to the same game world, events, and vehicle roster as those on other platforms. This includes post-launch updates, car packs, and expansions such as the Hot Wheels and Rally Adventure content, bringing the total car count to over 900.
Coinciding with the PlayStation 5 debut, a new feature called Horizon Realms is rolling out across all platforms. This update integrates popular limited-time areas and experiences from past seasonal events into the main game world.
Prior to arriving on PlayStation 5, Forza Horizon 5 had amassed a player base of 45 million across Xbox and PC. The game is now available to potentially 75 million additional players on the Sony console.
Looking back at the series' history, Lead Game Designer David Orton recalled booting up the first Horizon game and hearing Porter Robinson's 'Language,' noting the excitement of an open-world Forza title. Art Director Don Arceta cited the initial drive in Horizon 3 as a memorable moment, particularly the visuals on Xbox One and hitting the beach in the Lamborghini Centenario. You can read more about the game's launch on PS5 here.
Forza Horizon 5 can be purchased on PlayStation 5, alongside its existing availability on PC and Xbox systems. The expansion to the new platform allows a broader audience to experience the game's open-world driving festival.
Lead Game Designer David Orton reflected on the porting process, saying, āI remember we were doing play tests where we had sort of two screens side by side, and for a while we had like a sticker saying āthis is the PlayStation 5ā, and āthis is the Xbox versionā. And at one point those stickers got removed and it was like, you just didn't know which one was which.ā More details on the technical aspects can be found here.
