Forza Horizon 5’s Release on PS5: A Permanent Shift for Xbox

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Lately, Xbox enthusiasts have been buzzing with anticipation, wondering if Halo, Gears, or Forza—one of the “big three” Xbox franchises—might eventually land on the PS5. Well, Forza Horizon 5 just broke that barrier, officially slated for release on Sony’s current-generation console by Spring 2025. It’s safe to say the announcement sparked quite the conversation among fans.

Some Xbox devotees are feeling a bit heartbroken over how this beloved exclusive is crossing over to a competitor’s platform. Yet, if we’re honest, the writing has been on the wall for some time now. Phil Spencer and his team at Xbox have been hinting at the idea of no more “red lines” around exclusives, suggesting that we might see Halo, Gears, Starfield, and various other Xbox titles pop up on PS5, or even Nintendo Switch 2, before long.

Why take such a bold step? Well, the answer lies in the financial numbers. Microsoft’s hardware revenue has been slipping, whereas its income from Xbox content and services is on the rise. It seems their priorities are shifting. By embracing this new strategy, Xbox can evolve into a publishing powerhouse and offer their games to a broader audience across multiple platforms.

Earlier this year, Spencer opened up about how Xbox has “evolved” its identity to stay afloat during challenging times in the industry. He envisions that their progressive strategy, which involves making high-budget AAA games more accessible, could be a model worth adopting widely. Thomas Mahler, CEO of Moon Studios, echoed this sentiment, suggesting that as game development costs soar, the gaming world can only expand if it leans less on exclusives.

The success of this model is evident when these once-exclusive Xbox titles see impressive sales figures elsewhere. In February 2024, Xbox announced that games like Hi-Fi RUSH, Sea of Thieves, Pentiment, and Grounded would migrate to other platforms. PlayStation and Nintendo gamers were eager to dive into these previously unavailable games, and Sea of Thieves, in particular, has found massive success on PS5. Of course, there were murmurs of discontent from fans when they realized it was more than just a small batch of games making the leap. PlayStation users were drawn to them faster than Xbox initially suggested.

Here’s where my main concern with Xbox’s new direction comes in. Their major marketing push, proclaiming that every device “is an Xbox,” seems to resonate well, but they haven’t exactly clarified their game migration plans to PS5 and Switch. It started with four games, then a few more, and now it could potentially involve the entire Xbox library. Xbox loyalists don’t have a clear roadmap to rely on—just whispers and occasional hints from Phil Spencer.

Will Microsoft manage to sell hardware without those enticing exclusives? Can the Xbox Game Pass alone drive console sales? With Forza Horizon 5 poised for its PS5 debut, some Xbox fans view this as a pivotal moment—maybe even the start of something bigger. But in essence, it’s simply the next step in a strategy that’s been slowly unfolding, promising serious profits by 2025. The multiplatform journey is gaining momentum, and even though Microsoft is being a bit hush-hush about their plans, expect to see more of Xbox’s top-tier titles on PS5, Nintendo Switch 2, and other platforms by the year’s end. This is a win for the industry from a business perspective, though many die-hard fans may mourn the loss of Xbox exclusivity.

It’s still uncertain what the future holds. What does this mean when the next Xbox console arrives? Or if an Xbox handheld device hits the market? There’s no doubt Phil Spencer has pondered these scenarios thoroughly and has likely drafted some strategic responses. Nonetheless, there’s a palpable sense of unease among the Xbox community that the company will need to address if it hopes to retain its fanbase. Let’s just hope their plan proves effective, as Xbox finds itself on a path of significant transformation.

Fraser Gilbert holds the position of Editor at Pure Xbox.