Is Forza Horizon 5 Cross‑Platform?

Forza Horizon 5 became one of the most celebrated racing games of recent years thanks to its huge open world set in Mexico, a constant stream of events, and a vibrant social community. As a gamer and a coach who has helped teams improve their strategy, I understand that players want to race together regardless of hardware. The question many ask is simple: Is Forza Horizon 5 cross-platform? To answer that, this guide explores the current state of cross‑play, cross‑save, and cross‑progression, explains platform‑specific restrictions, and offers insights drawn from personal experience and official sources.

Platform Availability

The open‑world world of Forza Horizon 5 has expanded beyond its original Xbox and PC launch platforms. Today, the game is available on:

• Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. Owners of these consoles enjoy the richest experience with high frame rates and graphical modes. The Xbox version is part of Xbox Game Pass, making it easy to jump in.
  
• Xbox One. The last‑generation console still supports the game, though with lower fidelity. If your family still uses an older system, you can still join friends on newer hardware.
  
• Windows PC via Microsoft Store. This version supports Xbox Play Anywhere, allowing you to buy once and play on console and PC with a shared save. It uses your Microsoft account to sync progress.
  
• Windows PC via Steam. Steam players can join races with other platforms, but they have separate save files. I learned this the hard way when I tried to move my cars from the Steam edition to my Xbox Series X and discovered that progress doesn’t travel between ecosystems.
  
• Xbox Cloud Gaming. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can stream the game to Android devices or browsers. This version shares progress with the Xbox consoles and Microsoft Store PC edition.
  
• PlayStation 5. The PS5 version launched in April 2025 with full feature parity and cross‑play. It requires linking a Microsoft account for online play, but does not support cross‑save.

Forza Horizon 5 is not available on PlayStation 4 or Nintendo Switch. This means players on those older platforms need to upgrade to join the festival.

Cross‑Platform Play (Crossplay)

Crossplay refers to the ability to play online with friends on different platforms. Forza Horizon 5 offers robust cross‑play, allowing racers on Xbox consoles, Windows PC (both Microsoft Store and Steam), and PS5 to join convoys and compete together. From my experience hosting weekly racing sessions with friends across devices, crossplay is a seamless way to share road trips and Horizon Arcade events.

Cross‑play is enabled by default on all platforms. On Xbox and PC, cross‑play settings are tied to your Microsoft account’s privacy settings, while PS5 players can toggle cross‑play within the game’s options. Turning cross‑play off will limit you to races with people using the same platform.

In practice, cross‑play works well. During a convoy, one friend on Xbox Series X might host while PC players join in, and PS5 racers can drop in without issue. Leaderboards are unified, so your drift and speed scores compete against players on every platform.

Crossplay Support by Platform

Understanding which platforms work together helps you plan group sessions. Here’s a breakdown:

• Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One: Cross‑play is fully supported with PC (Microsoft Store and Steam) and PS5. When you purchase the Xbox/PC bundle through Xbox Play Anywhere, your save file syncs between your console and your Microsoft Store PC. Multiplayer and seasonal events are the same across all devices.
  
• Windows PC via Microsoft Store: This edition supports cross‑play with all other versions. Because it’s part of Xbox Play Anywhere, progress carries between your Xbox console and Microsoft Store PC. If you start exploring Mexico on your desktop and later continue on your Series X, you’ll resume exactly where you left off.
  
• Windows PC via Steam: Steam players can race with everyone else. However, progress does not sync across ecosystems. The Steam save file is separate from the Microsoft account save, so your cars and credits remain on Steam even if you also own the game elsewhere. Leaderboards and share codes are still unified, but your story progression stays local.
  
• PlayStation 5: The PS5 version supports full cross‑play. You need a Microsoft account to access online features, which may surprise console players who aren’t part of the Xbox ecosystem. Once linked, you can join Xbox, PC, and Steam friends in convoys and share EventLab creations. The PS5 edition includes all expansions and updates, including the Horizon Realms update released alongside the PS5 launch. Clubs and some social features are unavailable on PS5, but leaderboards and user‑generated content sync across platforms.
  
• Xbox Cloud Gaming: Cloud players join the same lobbies as Xbox and PC players, and saves sync through the Microsoft account. This option is great when you’re traveling and want to complete daily challenges on a phone or laptop.

Platform‑Specific Limitations and Partial Compatibility

Although cross‑play is robust, there are important limitations:

• Cross‑save restrictions. Cross‑save only works between Xbox consoles, Xbox Cloud Gaming, and the Microsoft Store PC edition. If you buy the game on Steam or PS5, your save is separate. When I tested this by switching to Steam to play with modding friends, my Xbox progress, including rare cars, didn’t carry over. I had to start over and unlock everything again.
  
• No cross‑progression for Steam and PS5. Cross‑progression refers to the ability to maintain progression (cars, credits, story completion) across platforms. In Forza Horizon 5, cross‑progression is only available within the Play Anywhere ecosystem. Steam and PS5 players cannot transfer progress to other platforms.
  
• Required Microsoft account on PS5. To access online features on PS5, you must sign in to a Microsoft account. This requirement is unique to Xbox games on PlayStation, such as Sea of Thieves, and ensures your profile and in‑game identity are consistent.
  
• Missing social features on PS5. Clubs are unavailable on PS5. The game’s community functionality, such as club rankings and chat, exists only on Xbox and PC.
  
• Platform‑specific performance modes. PS5 and PS5 Pro offer Performance and Quality modes with unique frame rate targets, while Xbox Series X/S and PC have their own settings. Cloud gaming depends on network quality.

Cross‑Save and Cross‑Progression

Cross‑save lets you transfer your save file between devices. Cross‑progression goes further by synchronizing your progression, unlocks, and purchases. In Forza Horizon 5, these features are treated differently depending on where you play.

Only players using the Microsoft Store PC version and Xbox consoles benefit from full cross‑save and cross‑progression. By signing into the same Microsoft account on both devices, you can pick up your campaign and garage on one device and resume on another. If you unlock a new hypercar on your Series S, it appears on your PC automatically.

Steam and PS5 do not participate in this system. When playing on these platforms, your save file is stored locally or within that platform’s cloud and cannot be transferred. While leaderboards and share codes remain shared, your progression and purchases remain isolated. I learned this while trying to transfer my Steam progress to PS5; there was no official method to move my garage.

Cross‑Save Support

The availability of cross‑save depends on where you purchase or download the game:

• Xbox consoles, Microsoft Store PC, and Xbox Cloud Gaming: These versions share a single save file. Progress, garage inventory, accolades, and credits stay synchronized as long as you sign into the same Microsoft account. This is part of Xbox Play Anywhere, meaning you can buy the game once and play across supported devices with a shared save.
  
• Steam: Steam does not support cross‑save with the Microsoft Store PC or Xbox versions. Your Steam save is unique. Leaderboards, user‑generated content, and share codes are shared, but progression does not migrate.
  
• PS5: The PS5 edition has no cross‑save with any other platform. You can transfer your save between multiple PS5 consoles via PlayStation Cloud, but you cannot move progress to or from Xbox or PC. PS5 players start fresh and cannot import their existing cars or credits.

Cross‑Progression Support

Cross‑progression mirrors cross‑save but focuses on your progress rather than the file itself. Forza Horizon 5’s cross‑progression support exists only within the Xbox Play Anywhere ecosystem. If you own the game on Xbox and the Microsoft Store PC, your accolades, story completion, cars, and in‑game purchases sync across both. Achievements unlock across devices, and you continue seasonal playlists seamlessly.

For Steam and PS5, there is no cross‑progression. Buying the game again on another platform means starting from scratch. According to Windows Central, cross‑progression is restricted to the Play Anywhere version, leaving other players without a unified progression path.

Account Linking

Cross‑play and cross‑progression rely on your Microsoft account. Here’s how to ensure you are connected:

1. Create or sign in to a Microsoft account. Xbox owners already have one, but PS5 and Steam players will need to create an account at no cost.
   
2. Link your Microsoft account to your platform profile. On Xbox and the Microsoft Store PC, this happens automatically. On Steam, you’re prompted to sign in with your Microsoft account the first time you launch the game. PS5 players must link their Microsoft account before accessing online features. This step is mandatory; otherwise, you can only play offline.
   
3. Invite friends across platforms. In the social menu, choose “Add MSA friend” and enter your friend’s Xbox profile name. They must accept the request. Once connected, you can form a convoy and tackle Horizon Expeditions together.
   
4. Toggle cross‑play and privacy settings. In the settings menu, you can turn cross‑play off or restrict who can invite you. If you have younger players at home, set appropriate privacy levels for their accounts.

From coaching youth teams, I’ve learned that clear communication is crucial. Remind friends to link their Microsoft accounts before scheduled events. Otherwise, you’ll waste valuable time waiting for them to finish setup.

Developer/Publisher Comments and Future Plans

Playground Games and Xbox Game Studios confirm that cross‑play is a core feature of Forza Horizon 5. Official support articles state that cross‑play spans Xbox, Windows PC, Steam, and PS5. Cross‑play is on by default and can be disabled. The requirement to link a Microsoft account on PS5 ensures a unified player identity.

The developers also clarify that cross‑save and cross‑progression are limited to the Xbox Play Anywhere version. Steam and PS5 players have separate save ecosystems. There are currently no announced plans to expand cross‑save beyond those ecosystems, although players continue to request the feature.

That said, the team has delivered free updates like Horizon Realms and continues to add new cars and seasonal events. With the PS5 port now available and cross‑play uniting all racers, the focus remains on gameplay parity rather than moving saves across platforms.

Summary

For those asking “Is Forza Horizon 5 cross-platform?”, the answer is yes. The game supports full cross‑play across Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Windows PC (Microsoft Store and Steam), Xbox Cloud Gaming, and PlayStation 5. Leaderboards, EventLab creations, and most social features connect players on all devices. By linking your Microsoft account and inviting friends through convoys, you can race together anywhere.

However, cross‑play does not mean cross‑save or cross‑progression. Only the Xbox Play Anywhere version—covering Xbox consoles, the Microsoft Store PC edition, and cloud gaming—supports shared saves and progression. Steam and PS5 players must start over on each platform. Clubs and certain social features are also unavailable on PS5.

If you’re new to the series or only play on one platform, these restrictions may not matter. But multi‑platform gamers should understand that progress does not follow you across ecosystems. As someone who has built a robust garage on Xbox and later purchased the game on Steam for friends, I know the frustration of starting from scratch. Still, the joy of exploring Mexico with friends on any device outweighs the inconvenience.

Before making a purchase, consider where you plan to play most often. If you enjoy racing with a diverse group of friends and want to share progress between console and PC, the Xbox/Microsoft Store version is the safest bet. If you prefer the convenience of Steam or the DualSense features on PS5, be prepared to maintain separate save files. Whatever you choose, Forza Horizon 5 remains an exhilarating ride that continues to grow through updates, seasonal events, and a welcoming community.

As you finish reading, you may be interested in exploring more games that support cross‑play. Our article on the best cross‑platform games showcases additional titles that let you play with friends across devices. 

FAQs

Is Forza Horizon 5 crossplay between Xbox and PlayStation?

Yes, Forza Horizon 5 crossplay between Xbox and PlayStation is supported through convoys and online modes. All players need to link a Microsoft account, and crossplay is on by default.

Does Forza Horizon 5 support cross progression?

No, Forza Horizon 5 does not support cross progression outside of Xbox Play Anywhere. Steam and PS5 players cannot carry over progress or vehicles to other platforms.

Can you transfer your Forza Horizon 5 save data to PS5?

No, you cannot transfer your Forza Horizon 5 save data to PS5 from another platform. Each platform maintains independent save files, so progress remains isolated.

How do you invite friends for cross‑platform play in Forza Horizon 5?

To invite friends for cross‑platform play in Forza Horizon 5, create a convoy, choose Add MSA Friend, and send an invitation. Your friends must accept the request to join your session.

Is crossplay enabled by default in Forza Horizon 5?

Yes, crossplay is enabled by default in Forza Horizon 5 across all platforms. Players can disable cross‑play in the settings if they prefer to race only against people using the same platform.

Do you need Xbox Live or PS Plus to play Forza Horizon 5 online?

Yes, you need Xbox Live or PS Plus to play Forza Horizon 5 online on console. PC players can access online features through their Microsoft account without extra subscription fees.

Is Forza Horizon 5 available on PlayStation 4?

No, Forza Horizon 5 is not available on PlayStation 4. The game launched on Xbox One and later arrived on PS5, but there is no PS4 version.