Forza Horizon 5 review on PlayStation 5: no exclusive, but with DualSense

With the release of Forza Horizon 5 on PlayStation 5, something is happening that was hard to imagine five years ago. One of the most famous Microsoft exclusives, the flagship of the arcade racing genre, is coming to Sony consoles. And even if it is not a new game (the original release took place in 2021), the very fact that it appeared on PS5 is an event that breaks down the previous boundaries between platforms. Especially for those who have long dreamed of Horizon but remained in the Sony ecosystem.

Remark: This article is not about the game itself (everything has been said about it for a long time), but about how it is implemented on the basic version of the PlayStation 5. We’re not so much interested in the content as in «wrapper»: port quality, frame rate stability, graphics modes, use of PS5 features, and even such small things as trophy support.

Adaptation for PlayStation 5: more than just a port?

The last sentence of the introduction, or rather its ending, does not concern me. A few years ago, the hype around the release of Forza Horizon 5 did its job: I bought a used Xbox One S for 5000 UAH, three disks with «Forza» — FH2 (unfortunately, I couldn’t find where to buy the first part), FH3 and FM6 — and plunged into the virtual world of bright and colourful races in Italy, France, and Australia. I hope by now you understand how pleased I was to hear a few months ago that the latest installment in the series would soon be released on PS5, giving Japanese console owners access to what I believe to be the best arcade racing game of our time — a gap that Sony has ignored since Driveclub.

At first glance, everything is standard: two graphics modes, fast loading, support for all the main features of the PS5. But a closer look shows that the adaptation is minimal. For example, there are no separate visual «settings» for PS5, the interface remains identical to the Xbox version, and even switching between graphics modes requires restarting the game — I wonder if this is the legacy of Microsoft consoles?

Does this version «Forza» have exclusive features that are not and will not be available on other platforms? The short answer is no, Forza Horizon 5 on PS5 does not have any exclusive gameplay or visual features that are not available on other platforms.

The Horizon Realms update, which was highlighted in the PS5 trailer, is available on all platforms. But if you were expecting a conditional advantage, it’s here, and it’s related to the DualSense gamepad.

Along with the release of Forza Horizon 5 on PS5 on April 25, a major Horizon Realms update will be released, bringing back 11 of the most popular temporary zones from previous seasons — from Retrowave Highway to Lunar Drift Arena — and adding a new permanent track, Horizon Stadium Circuit, with its map icon and leaderboard. It’s a kind of «greatest hits» collection of the last 3.5 years, so that newcomers to PlayStation don’t miss the best of the past content. In addition, there are — new cars, achievements, rewards, and modes that significantly revitalize the game.

DualSense: vibration to the max

The DualSense controller is utilized to its fullest potential, transmitting small vibrations during braking, changes in terrain, and even pavement types. Adaptive triggers are based on the type of car and the situation on the road. Compared to the Xbox controller, — is a step-up in emotional immersion and one of the few things where the PS5 version has a unique advantage.

But the support for exclusive DualSense features alone is not a reason to buy the game if you already have it on an Xbox Series X console, as it seems like you won’t get a radically new experience. However, if you, like me, have never played the game before, it makes sense to choose the PlayStation version.

SSDs and downloads: McLaren-level speed

Forza Horizon 5 was already one of the fastest games to load on the Series X, but the situation is even better on the PS5, though not by much. Moving between map zones is virtually instantaneous, loading after a race loss takes up to 2 seconds.

If we discuss the difference between even powerful PCs and PS5, the latter has an advantage, and first of all in the speed of game launch. I don’t know what it’s about, but on my laptop with a PCI Express NVMe 4.0 SSD, the game takes up to 30 seconds to launch.

Given the smoothness of the quality mode, I have chosen this mode for myself regularly. I recommend choosing «performance» only at low speeds.

FPS, lags, freezes

Surprisingly, both modes are stable. In Performance mode, the game keeps 60 frames on most tracks, although there may be slight drops in heavy traffic or during weather effects. Quality — a reliable 30 frames without any drops, no matter where you ride: whether in the jungle of Mexico, full of small objects, or during evening rides in a city with dozens of streetlights.

Support for trophies and activities

The game supports all PS5 system functions — activities, quick launch, trophies. Even adapted Activity Cards for the transition to career events. However, there are no features unique to PlayStation, such as displaying the percentage of progress in the main career on the game launch screen or cards with hints, for obvious reasons — this is not a new AAA game, but a port to a new platform.

Comparison with Xbox Series X and PC

I can’t compare the picture with the Xbox Series X, but from the gameplay review I found on the Internet, it seems that the PS5 version doesn’t offer any significant improvements in terms of graphics. On a PC, it all depends on the configuration: 60 FPS on PS5 corresponds to approximately medium-high settings, and 30 FPS is close to ultra.

It is also worth mentioning the first significant drawback of the new version: although the PS5 version supports cross-platform play with Xbox and PC, the progress between the platforms is not synchronized. If you’ve already started your career on PC or Xbox, you won’t be able to transfer it here.

Pricing and versions

Game version	Cost	Bonuses
Standard	1200 UAH ($30)
Deluxe	1600 UAH ($40)	a subscription to packages of machines (not all);
Premium	2000 UAH ($50)	subscription to car packages (not all); all DLC + early access from 04/25

The price seems adequate — given the amount of content and the quality of the game, $30 for the basic version sounds convincing. In our realities — it is certainly expensive, but the price is not too high, considering how much time you can spend with pleasure in the game.

However, there is a caveat: there is no physical edition of the game on PS5 — only the digital version is available. This can be disappointing for collectors or those who prefer disks for «buy, play, sell reasons.

Also, the standard version does not include any of the major DLC, so to get the full experience (for example, access to the Hot Wheels location), you will have to buy or immediately take the premium edition.

Compared to competitors in the racing game genre, such as Gran Turismo 7, Forza’s pricing strategy looks even more generous — Forza wins in the content/price comparison. Of course, each game has its audience, and none can fully replace the other.

Who is this version for?

For fans of the genre who don’t have an Xbox or gaming PC (or prefer PlayStation), but want to experience what Forza is all about. Also for those who don’t want to bother with the realism of Gran Turismo racing simulation, but are looking for a race that entertains and captivates with its staging. And — for everyone who wants to see what Microsoft looks like on someone else’s field. And it looks quite confident, I must say.