Forza Horizon 5 Should Hit PlayStation

Simply put, there's nothing on the PlayStation 5 that quite matches the experience of Forza Horizon 5.

The Crew Motorfest comes close. Embracing the mantra 'if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em', it adopts a full festival vibe, making Motorfest feel more akin to Forza Horizon than its predecessors ever did.

Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown, unfortunately, doesn't measure up. While the Forza Horizon series owes much to the pioneering MMO racing of the original Test Drive Unlimited, Solar Crown's decision to be always-online with no dedicated solo mode falls short. Forza Horizon has allowed seamless switching between offline and online modes since Forza Horizon 2 in 2014!

Need for Speed Unbound has an impressive customization suite that outshines Forza Horizon in certain areas, but its focus on high-speed arcade pursuits means it's not a direct competitor.

No, the undisputed champion of modern open-world racing is Forza Horizon 5, and it's now available on PlayStation 5 for the first time. Its expansive and stunning Mexico map, its drift-friendly vehicle dynamics, and its massive garage of over 900 cars, including cult favorites not found in other racing games, offer a complete package. PlayStation users are diving into this experience, many for the very first time.

The reaction has been a joy to watch.

This influx of new players is something the team at Playground Games has eagerly anticipated.

"Yeah, I’m super excited," says Playground Games art director Don Arceta. "For many, this will be their first Forza Horizon game. It's thrilling to think about their initial experiences, just as we remember ours."

Arceta is particularly eager to see what kinds of events and races PlayStation 5 players will create using Forza Horizon 5’s extensive Event Lab customization tools.

"We now have over 800 props in the Event Lab, and the creativity of the community has been mind-blowing," he adds. "I'm excited to see what PlayStation 5 users will build and the creativity they'll bring to the table."

"You’ll actually get some pretty good Halo content too on the PlayStation, with the event lab props!"

The port to PlayStation 5 has been as technically flawless as its Xbox and PC versions, a remarkable feat given the game's size and the fact that its engine had never been used on PlayStation before.

"Given the series' roots in the Xbox ecosystem, there was a lot of code and engineering tailored to that," explains Arceta. "Porting it to the PS5 was a significant challenge. It was a huge task."

"The PlayStation 5 version was developed by Panic Button, in collaboration with Turn 10 and ourselves, and they did an amazing job. You get the same high-quality experience on PlayStation as on Xbox and PC – it's truly impressive work by Panic Button."

As a car enthusiast, I've always seen the Forza series as the ultimate collection of Hot Wheels. No other racing series offers such a diverse range of cars, from the ones you want to those you didn't even know you wanted. The idea of new players discovering their favorite cars in Forza Horizon 5 is thrilling.

For Playground Games lead game designer David Orton, it's the sheer variety of Forza Horizon 5 that he believes will impress newcomers.

"The breadth of Horizon is quite staggering," says Orton. "Players can find what they enjoy most, and with so much freedom, it can be anything they want."

"We pride ourselves on giving players the freedom to do what they want, and the game reacts accordingly. I'm excited for players to discover the wide range of content. Whether you're into road racing, Rivals, track racing, photography, or creating content with Event Lab, Horizon welcomes everyone and offers something for all. The realization that this is more than just a racing game is what excites me."

"For me, a victory would be hearing players say, 'I can’t believe I’ve never played this game before,'" says Arceta. "That surprise is what we're aiming for."

"Once they're surprised, they're engaged and want to learn more. That's what I'm looking for – the delight and stories from players."

Orton agrees, adding, "Players who've never tried Horizon before, whether due to platform differences or time constraints, will find a warm, welcoming world full of fun. Discovering Horizon and realizing, 'Oh my goodness, how have I never played this game before? This is incredible,' is a win for us. We're targeting a new cohort of players who may have never played a Forza title. There's an unknown element to their reactions, but given our history of perfecting our craft, we're excited to bring this to PlayStation and attract a whole new audience."

If there's any hobby more tribal than car culture, it's the loyalty to one's chosen video game console. For racing game fans, however, one significant barrier has been removed.

Let's hope it's not the last.