Forza Horizon 5 to Finally Hit PlayStation 5, Ready to Challenge Gran Turismo for Its Players

In a move that would have seemed impossible just a few years ago, Microsoft has announced that Forza Horizon 5 is racing onto PlayStation 5 this spring. This isn’t just another port announcement—it’s a seismic shift in the industry that could reshape how racing enthusiasts choose their platform of choice.

The announcement comes as part of Xbox’s broader strategy shift, with Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer having declared that there are “no red lines” when it comes to which games can make the leap to rival platforms. But what makes this particular announcement so intriguing is how it positions two of gaming’s most prestigious racing franchises head-to-head on the same platform for the first time.

For PlayStation loyalists who have only experienced the meticulous simulation of Gran Turismo, Forza Horizon’s arrival presents an entirely different flavor of automotive excellence—one that could either complement or compete with their longtime racing companion.

While both franchises share a passion for automobiles, Forza Horizon 5 and Gran Turismo 7 are as different as a Lamborghini is from a carefully tuned Toyota AE86. Polyphony Digital’s creation has always prided itself on being the “Real Driving Simulator,” with its deep focus on authentic physics, precise handling models, and photorealistic representations of vehicles.

Gran Turismo players spend hours fine-tuning their machines, learning every nuance of each track, and mastering the art of clean racing. It’s a game where saving milliseconds off your lap time feels like winning the championship, and where the difference between victory and defeat often comes down to tire wear and brake temperature.

In contrast, Forza Horizon 5 is more like the world’s greatest car festival crashed into an open-world playground. With nearly 900 cars at launch and all previous content included, PlayStation 5 players will have immediate access to a massive automotive sandbox where you’re just as likely to find yourself racing a plane in a modified Volkswagen Beetle as you are competing in a traditional circuit race.

The port, being handled by Panic Button in collaboration with Turn 10 Studios and Playground Games, promises to maintain all the features that made the game a hit on Xbox (and PC), including full cross-play support. This means PlayStation racers won’t just be getting a new game—they’ll be joining an already thriving community of millions who’ve been perfecting their drift scores and barn-finding skills since 2021.

Phil Spencer‘s recent comments about Xbox’s multiplatform strategy aren’t just corporate speak—they’re a revolutionary approach to how we think about platform exclusivity.

“There’s no reason to put a ring fence around any game,” Spencer stated in a recent interview with independent games journalist Dustin Legarie (via Eurogamer), emphasizing that Xbox wants to be the platform that enables “the world’s biggest games” to be available in “multiple places”.

This philosophy extends beyond just Forza Horizon 5. With other major titles like Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and DOOM: The Dark Ages also heading to PlayStation 5, Microsoft is clearly staging a friendly invasion of Sony’s territory. It’s less about platform wars now and more about ensuring everyone can play everything—a refreshing change from the “my console is better than yours” playground arguments of yesteryear.

For racing game enthusiasts, this means having access to both Gran Turismo’s meticulous simulation and Forza Horizon’s exuberant festival atmosphere on the same console. It’s like having a track day at Nürburgring and a street racing festival in Mexico all in one garage.

Each offers its own unique take on automotive excellence, and now PlayStation owners won’t have to choose between technical precision and pure, unbridled fun.

What do you think about Forza Horizon 5 coming to PlayStation 5? Will you be picking it up alongside Gran Turismo 7, or do you prefer to stick with one racing franchise? Let us know in the comments below!