Forza Horizon 5 Should Hit PlayStation: A Must-Play Experience

There's simply no game on PlayStation 5 that matches the experience of Forza Horizon 5. While other titles like The Crew Motorfest, Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown, and Need for Speed Unbound have their unique charms, none quite capture the magic of Forza Horizon 5.

The Crew Motorfest adopts a festival vibe similar to Forza Horizon, embracing the 'if you can't beat 'em, join 'em' philosophy. It's the closest competitor, yet it still falls short of the comprehensive experience that Forza Horizon 5 delivers.

Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown, while a pioneer in MMO racing, doesn't fare as well. Its always-online requirement without a solo mode starkly contrasts Forza Horizon's flexibility since Forza Horizon 2, which seamlessly blends offline and online play.

Need for Speed Unbound boasts an impressive customization suite, surpassing Forza in certain aspects. However, its focus on high-speed chases and arcade-style gameplay doesn't make it a direct rival to Forza Horizon 5's open-world racing experience.

Forza Horizon 5 stands out as the ultimate open-world racing game, now available on PlayStation 5 for the first time. Players can explore its vast, beautiful Mexico map, enjoy its drift-friendly vehicle dynamics, and access an expansive garage featuring over 900 cars, including cult favorites not found elsewhere. PlayStation users are diving into this immersive world, often for the first time.

The reaction from the community has been exciting to witness. Playground Games' art director, Don Arceta, expressed his enthusiasm about welcoming new players to the franchise. "I’m super excited," he said. "For many, this will probably be the first Forza Horizon game they've ever played. It's thrilling to think about their first experiences with Horizon, much like ours were."

Arceta is eager to see what PlayStation 5 users will create with Forza Horizon 5's extensive Event Lab customization tools. "We have over 800 props now in the Event Lab, and the creativity of the community has been mind-blowing," he added. "I'm excited to see what the PlayStation 5 community will build."

Players can even craft some impressive Halo content using the Event Lab props on PlayStation. "You'll actually get some pretty good Halo content too on the PlayStation, with the event lab props!"

The PlayStation 5 port of Forza Horizon 5 is technically impressive, matching the quality of its Xbox and PC versions. Despite the challenge of adapting the engine to a new platform, the collaboration between Panic Button, Turn 10, and Playground Games has resulted in a seamless experience. "The PlayStation 5 version was developed by Panic Button, in collaboration with Turn 10 and ourselves," said Arceta. "Panic Button did an amazing job."

As a car enthusiast, I've always admired the Forza series for its extensive and unique car collection. Forza Horizon 5 introduces PlayStation players to a variety of cars they might never have encountered before, potentially sparking new favorites.

Lead game designer David Orton highlights the game's breadth as a key feature that will captivate new players. "The breadth of Horizon is quite staggering," he noted. "Players can find what they really enjoy, whether it's road racing, Rivals, track racing, photography, or creating content with Event Lab. Horizon is a space where everyone is welcome, and there's something for everyone."

Arceta hopes that new players will be pleasantly surprised by their first Forza Horizon experience. "For me, a victory would be hearing players say, 'I can't believe I've never played this game before,'" he shared. "That surprise and engagement is what we're aiming for."

Orton agrees, emphasizing the welcoming nature of the game. "Players who've never tried Horizon before will find a warm, welcoming place full of fun," he said. "It's exciting to bring this experience to PlayStation and introduce Forza to a new audience."

The arrival of Forza Horizon 5 on PlayStation 5 breaks down barriers for racing game enthusiasts, bridging different gaming communities. Let's hope this is just the beginning of more inclusive gaming experiences.