Gamers today have some of the most incredible racing video games at their disposal. Between Microsoft's Forza franchise with Forza Motorsport for simulation racing and Forza Horizon for easier, arcade-style street racing, gamers have their hands full. Then there is Sony's flagship racing franchise for the PlayStation console, Gran Turismo, which is going strong with its latest iteration from March 2022, Gran Turismo 7.
Updated April 2023: PS4 and PS5 offer gateways to a plethora of incredibly amazing video games, but there are some challenges gamers are facing with the Forza Horizon 5 on these game consoles. Hence, we’ve updated this article with more information about the challenges with playing the Forza series on PS4 and PS5.
Today, any gearhead coming across clips from any of the games would need a minute to realize that the gorgeous, life-like visuals in front of them are from a game, not from real life. No other game features as gorgeous and lifelike graphics as Forza Horizon 5, which is undeniably the king of the hill when it comes to hyperrealistic graphics that would have you squinting to see if you're not just watching recorded footage. That said, any racing or car enthusiast would wish to ride the world's best sports cars in the latest Forza Horizon 5 game. If you have a gaming PC or an Xbox console from this generation or the last, you'd be easily able to boot up Horizon 5 and play it to your heart's content. However, for those with the Sony Playstation 4 or 5, it's a different story.
Is Forza Horizon Available For The Sony PlayStation?
The Forza Horizon games are published by Microsoft, who created and own the Xbox brand as well as the Windows operating system. As such, Forza Horizon 5 can only be played through the Xbox gaming console or a PC that runs on Windows 10 or 11. Those who own an Xbox One, Xbox Series S or X console can simply download and enjoy Forza Horizon 5 on their console.
Unfortunately, for those who game on a Sony PlayStation 4 or 5, Forza Horizon 5 is simply not available on their consoles. In fact, no Forza game has ever graced the Sony PlayStation. As an alternative, PlayStation players may opt for games such as Gran Turismo 7, which is Sony's flagship simulator racing game for the PS4 and PS5.
Will Forza Horizon Ever Be On PlayStation?
Seeing how the Forza Horizon series is one of the biggest draws for sales of the Xbox One, and Xbox Series S and X consoles, the answer is most certainly a no. Microsoft would never launch the Forza Horizon games on the PlayStation, especially since the PlayStation 5 or 4 do not have a similar open-world arcade racer all of their own. Microsoft owns the Forza Horizon franchise and has made it clear that it is committed to keeping the game as an exclusive title for its own platforms. After all, exclusive titles for both the rival consoles are what drive most of their sales.
That said, gamers should also not expect the eagerly anticipated Forza Horizon 6 on either of PS4 or PS5. Widely rumored to be available in 2024, the Forza Horizon 6, factoring in the usual Forza delays, should realistically be hitting the stores in 2025. Notably, there aren’t many concrete or official news about the Forza Horizon 6 yet, but some strong rumors are also pointing to Japan as the most likely location for the game. However, what looks more likely, is that the Forza Horizon 6 should be the last installment of the awesome Forza series.
Alternatives To Forza Horizon On The PlayStation For Gearheads
Even though the fantastic Forza Horizon 5 is not available to play on the PlayStation 5 or the PlayStation 4, there are plenty of other incredible racing games that Sony players can treat themselves to. Firstly, of course, is the PlayStation's flagship racing game, Gran Turismo 7. Just a year old, GT7 is a remarkable simulator racer which puts you behind the wheel of the world's greatest cars, and even some futuristic concept cars that the game developers built in collaboration with marques like Ferrari, Bugatti, and Chrysler.
Then there is the latest Need For Speed game, NFS: Unbound, which got a solid 7-out-of-10 rating from IGN. In fact, if you're looking for a breathtakingly gorgeous street racing experience that is sure to blow you away on the Sony PlayStation, the nine-year-old game Driveclub is still a fantastic bet. With great cars, hyper-realistic graphics, and inarguably the best weather system ever put in a racing game, Sony's Driveclub is one of the best alternative to Forza Horizon 5 on the PlayStation 4 and 5.
Sources: IGN.com