If you’re here because you just want a clean yes-or-no: yes, Forza Horizon 5 supports cross-play across the platforms where it’s available, including Xbox consoles, PC (Microsoft Store and Steam), and PlayStation 5. That’s the headline. But I think most people aren’t really asking a trivia question — they’re asking, “Can I actually join my friend’s session without a headache?” The good news is you can, and the steps are pretty consistent once you understand how the game handles friends and invites across different systems.
This guide is meant to be the “one page you keep open while setting it up.” It’s detailed on purpose. And yes, a couple of parts are slightly annoying (Microsoft account linking on PS5 is the big one), but it’s manageable once you see the logic.
is forza horizon 5 cross platform? (What it means in practice)
Forza Horizon 5 supports cross-play between all platforms the game is available on — Xbox consoles, PC via the Microsoft Store and Steam, and PlayStation 5. In plain English: players on different platforms can free roam together, join the same online session, and run events together.
One small pause here, because this is where people get tripped up: “cross-platform” usually means cross-play (playing together). It does not automatically mean your full save file follows you everywhere. The PS5 FAQ is very direct that PS5 saves do not carry over from Xbox/PC, and it also mentions the same separation between Xbox and Steam saves.
Quick definitions (without making it a dictionary)
- Cross-play: You and your friend can play together online even if you’re on different platforms.
- Cross-progression: Your career progress and save file move with you when you switch platforms (this is the part that’s limited).
- Cross-platform friends: A friend connection that works through your Microsoft account/Xbox identity, not just your console’s friend system.
Which platforms can play together?
Here’s the practical compatibility list, as confirmed in the official PS5 FAQ:
- Xbox consoles ↔ PC (Microsoft Store) ↔ PC (Steam) ↔ PS5 (all can cross-play together).
If you’re trying to set this up for a group, it helps to think of it this way: Forza Horizon 5 uses your Microsoft account identity as the “shared layer” that makes cross-play possible across platforms.
Before you start: the non-negotiable requirements
Cross-play problems are often not “bugs.” They’re usually one missing requirement — and it’s often something simple that’s easy to overlook, like being in the right online mode.
PS5 requirements for online multiplayer
- An active PlayStation Plus membership is required to access online multiplayer features on PS5 (solo/offline play doesn’t require it).
- You must be connected to the internet and in Horizon Life mode before trying to invite or join friends.
Everyone (all platforms)
- Online multiplayer needs to be unlocked in-game by completing the introductory content (the official cross-play guide calls this out as a common requirement when invites don’t work).
- Cross-play must be enabled (it’s on by default, but it can be turned off).
If you want a dedicated walkthrough for friend adding + invites (with screenshots later), this is a good place to link your cluster post naturally: how to add cross-platform friends in Forza Horizon 5.
Microsoft account linking on PS5 (the part that matters)
On PS5, you need to link a Microsoft account in addition to having a PSN account. The PS5 FAQ says this happens the first time you start the game: you’ll be prompted to sign in with your Microsoft account (Xbox Live services are part of this) and link it to the PSN account currently logged into your console.
Now, here’s the slightly uncomfortable detail: the PS5 FAQ also says linking is “title-by-title” and permanent in the sense that even if you unlink, you’re constrained to relinking to only that originally linked Microsoft account for Forza Horizon 5. So if you’re thinking, “I’ll just swap accounts later,” maybe slow down and choose the Microsoft account you genuinely want to keep tied to your PS5 playtime.
If that limitation affects your household (shared console, multiple players, someone accidentally linked the wrong account), you’ll probably want the deeper breakdown in: Forza Horizon 5 PS5 Microsoft account linking.
How to enable (or disable) cross-play on PS5
The official cross-play support article lays out the steps clearly, and it’s refreshingly straightforward.
Enable cross-play (PlayStation only)
- Launch the game.
- On the title screen, open Settings.
- Go to Settings > Extras.
- Toggle Crossplay to On.
You can toggle it off the same way if you want. Also worth knowing: the PS5 FAQ says cross-play is on by default and can also be adjusted in PS5 console settings. So if it feels like your toggle “isn’t doing anything,” there may be a console-level setting involved.
How cross-platform friends work in FH5 (and why it’s different)
This is where many articles get vague — and then you end up clicking around menus while your friend waits. FH5 supports “same-platform” friends in the obvious way, but cross-platform friends rely on your Microsoft account identity.
According to the official guide, when you’re interacting with someone in-game, you’ll use the Player Actions menu. If you’re on the same platform, you can view their platform profile and add them normally. If you’re on different platforms, you’ll use “Add MSA Friend,” which adds them as a friend on your linked Microsoft account, and that allows you to be in-game friends via your Xbox gamertag regardless of platform.
Where to find the Player Actions menu
- PS5: Main Menu > Online > Social → select a player name to open Player Actions.
- Xbox and PC: Main Menu > Online > Friends/Players → select a player name to open Player Actions.
If you want to go deeper into edge cases (Steam name vs gamertag confusion, someone not appearing, etc.), a troubleshooting cluster fits well here: FH5 cross-play not working.
How to invite friends cross-platform (convoys)
If you take only one thing from this guide, take this: in FH5, cross-platform play is usually “convoy first.” Create a convoy, set privacy correctly, then invite.
PS5: play with a friend on Xbox or Steam
The official support doc lists the requirements and the flow. It’s basically:
- Be connected to the internet.
- Have an active PlayStation Plus subscription.
- Be in Horizon Life mode.
Then:
- Go to the Online tab.
- Press the Convoy button.
- Select Create a Convoy.
- Select Friends Only.
- Invite from the list of PlayStation and cross-platform friends.
While leading a convoy on PS5, the support article notes you can press the Triangle button in the Pause Menu to view/manage convoy, add players, or adjust privacy. That little detail is easy to miss — and it’s exactly the kind of thing that makes a guide feel “actually helpful” instead of just technically correct.
Xbox or PC (including Steam): play with a friend on PS5
Again, the official steps are clear, but they have one important detail embedded inside them: your PS5 friend needs to have linked their PSN ID to a Microsoft account that has an Xbox profile provisioned on it. In practice, that means your friend has a Microsoft account with an Xbox-style identity that FH5 can recognize.
- Make sure you’re connected to the internet and in Horizon Life mode.
- Open the Online tab → Convoy → Create a Convoy.
- Set privacy to Friends or Invite Only.
- Open the Xbox Guide (Xbox button) → People tab → Find Someone.
- Search your friend’s Xbox Gamertag (tied to their linked Microsoft account).
- Add them if needed, then return to Convoy → Invite Friends and invite them.
The support doc also mentions that PS5 players appear with a PlayStation icon in the friends list. And the PS5 player needs to accept the invite through the game’s in-game messaging while they’re actually playing FH5.
Does Forza Horizon 5 have cross-progression?
This is where the answer gets a little “yes, but also no,” and it’s worth being honest because it impacts buying decisions.
The PS5 FAQ states that Forza Horizon 5 on PlayStation 5 will not carry over save files from versions of the game released on other platforms. It also says this is the same behavior between Xbox and Steam, where game files are separate and not synchronized.
However, it’s not a complete wall. The PS5 FAQ says some online statistics that live on leaderboards are attached to your Microsoft account and synchronized across Xbox consoles, PS5, and PC. It even gives examples of synced stats like roads discovered, areas discovered, PR Stunts records, Rivals data, and more — basically anything that shows up on a leaderboard.
Also, the FAQ notes you can publish UGC on one platform and download it on another, but you can’t edit it unless you’re on the original save profile it was created on. That’s a small detail, but creators care about it a lot.
Clubs, UGC, and leaderboards: what carries across platforms?
Cross-play isn’t just about driving together. People also care about community features.
Clubs on PS5
The PS5 FAQ says Clubs were designed around Xbox Clubs and are unavailable on the PS5 version. It’s not a dealbreaker for everyone, but it’s worth knowing before you promise your crew you’ll “just join the club later.”
UGC (EventLab, liveries, tunes) across platforms
The PS5 FAQ says PS5 players can enjoy UGC shared by players from the Xbox and Steam versions, and Xbox/PC players can also access content created by PS5 players.
Leaderboards
The PS5 FAQ says leaderboards are shared across Xbox consoles, PS5, and PC. It also explains that leaderboard-based stats are attached to your Microsoft account and synchronized across platforms.
Privacy and safety: blocking and reporting (cross-platform)
This part is uncomfortable to talk about, but it’s part of online play. The official support guide includes a “Block MSA” option inside Player Actions, and it lists what that does.
- Removes the player from your friends list (if applicable).
- Prevents the player from sending convoy invites.
- Prevents their UGC (photos, tunes, liveries, decals/vinyls) from appearing in UGC search results.
On PS5, the guide also says there’s an additional step: open “Show Player Profile” (out of game) and block the player’s PS5 account too. In other words, if you want a clean break, you handle it at both the Microsoft layer and the PlayStation layer.
Reporting is also available from the Player Actions menu (“Report Player”), with the support doc noting that Xbox/PC players reporting via leaderboard names may see “Report Suspicious Behavior,” which still reports cheating on the leaderboard.
Common cross-play problems (and what usually fixes them)
Sometimes cross-play issues are genuinely technical. Other times… it’s a missed checkbox, or someone is in the wrong mode, or a subscription expired. Not glamorous, but that’s real life.
You can’t see your friend to invite them
- Confirm both players are in Horizon Life mode (the official steps repeatedly assume this).
- On PS5, confirm cross-play is enabled in Settings > Extras.
- Make sure the PS5 player linked their Microsoft account correctly on first launch.
Your friend didn’t receive the invite
- The official guide states PS5 players receive invites through FH5’s in-game messaging while playing FH5, so they need to be in-game to accept it.
- Double-check convoy privacy: “Friends Only” (PS5 flow) or “Friends/Invite Only” (Xbox/PC flow).
Online multiplayer seems “locked”
- The cross-play guide mentions completing the introductory races/activities to unlock online multiplayer, so if a new account can’t join, finish the intro first.
If you want the full checklist in a cleaner diagnostic format, here’s the deeper guide: Forza Horizon 5 cross-play not working.
FAQ: quick answers people actually search
Is Forza Horizon 5 cross platform between PS5 and PC?
Yes. The official PS5 FAQ says FH5 supports cross-play across the platforms it’s available on, including PS5 and PC (Microsoft Store and Steam).
Do I need PlayStation Plus for cross-play on PS5?
Yes for online multiplayer. The PS5 FAQ says PlayStation Plus is required for online multiplayer features on PS5, while solo/offline features are still available without it.
Can I use my Xbox progress on PS5?
Not as a full save transfer. The PS5 FAQ says PS5 does not carry over save files from other platforms, and it also notes Xbox and Steam saves are separate too. Some leaderboard-based stats tied to your Microsoft account do synchronize across platforms.
Is cross-play turned on by default on PS5?
The PS5 FAQ says cross-play is on by default and can be disabled in game settings (and also adjusted in PS5 console settings).
Conclusion: is forza horizon 5 cross platform?
Yes — is forza horizon 5 cross platform in the way most people mean it? Absolutely. Cross-play is supported across Xbox consoles, PC (Microsoft Store and Steam), and PS5, and you can join friends through the convoy system once everyone is online and set up correctly.
If things feel finicky, it’s usually because the PS5 side needs a Microsoft account link, or because someone isn’t in Horizon Life yet, or because cross-play got toggled off somewhere. A few minutes of setup tends to solve it — and once it’s done, it stops being a “process” and starts being what it should be: just driving around Mexico with friends, talking about nothing in particular, and somehow still taking the next corner too fast.
