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Forza Horizon 5’s cross-platform racing unites PS5 & Xbox in Mexico’s open world. Race friends in 2025’s vibrant co-op adventure!
Car racing brings speed and thrill, and Forza Horizon 5, released in 2021, has hooked gamers with its open-world adventures in Mexico. Playground Games speeds into overdrive with the game in 2025 by incorporating cross-platform multiplayer, allowing PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S gamers to join forces. The new release, announced on Xbox Wire, sheds console divisions and unites gamers for vibrantly celebrated festivals, desert sprints, and jungle drifts.
Mexico's vibrant scenery, ranging from volcanoes to coastal cities, offers the perfect setting for shared races. The move is an escalation of cross-play overtures, and Forza Horizon 5 sets the standard in cross-play gaming. This article delves into the cross-platform feature, its significance, and what it holds for gamers in 2025.
Forza Horizon 5's cross-play update, released in April 2025, facilitates seamless multiplayer between PS5 and Xbox. Before, the game was only accessible on Xbox, PC, and cloud gaming, but now PlayStation is supported in a ported version, according to IGN. Players share the same servers and compete or cooperate in racing mode.
The move comes as part of Microsoft's efforts towards cross-platform play, as seen with games such as Sea of Thieves. X social media erupts with fanfare, as players commend the ability to play friends across platforms.
The cross-platform system blends seamlessly. Players connect their Xbox Live or PlayStation Network profile to a common Forza account, according to Xbox Wire. Matchmaking groups PS5 and Xbox players together by skill level and region for fair racing. Cross-platform voice chat and text messaging enable collaboration.
The Horizon Festival hub in the game provides venues for the player to form convoys, drive around Mexico, or engage in activities like street racing. Stable servers, tuned for 2025's internet connectivity speeds, reduce lag, according to Eurogamer.
Mexico's environment continues to be a standout. The open world includes deserts, jungles, and cities, with changing weather such as sandstorms making things more difficult. Cross-play helps with exploration since PS5 and Xbox players partner up for stunts or treasure hunts.
The game's 4K visuals and 60 FPS, as reviewed on TechRadar, appear crisp on both consoles. Seasonal events, updated weekly, maintain the freshness, with 2025 seeing new cars like the 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E. X players post clips of synchronized drifts, showcasing the map's beauty.
Cross-play brings gaming communities together. Friends on other consoles can now compete in the same race, minimizing the need for multiple systems. The broader player base decreases matchmaking time, particularly for niche modes such as Horizon Arcade. Cross-platform leaderboards, pointed out by IGN, ignite positive rivalries.
The update also increases inclusiveness since PS5 players join Xbox veterans without needing to learn fresh controls. Such a level of inclusiveness is uncommon for racing games, putting Forza Horizon 5 ahead of the competition like Gran Turismo 7, which is not supported by Xbox.
Few games in 2025 provide cross-platform play. Gran Turismo 7, a PlayStation-exclusive, has PS4-PS5 cross-play but not Xbox, according to Eurogamer. Need for Speed Unbound, which plays on both consoles, does not have cross-play, according to Eurogamer.
Forza Horizon 5's open-world gameplay and arcade handling, plus cross-platform support, set it apart. The game's 400+ cars and upgradeable customization, spotlighted on X, are enticing to casual and hardcore racers, in contrast to simulation-intensive games such as F1 24.
The PS5 port, which was developed from the Xbox version, operates at 4K with ray-tracing in single-player mode, with Xbox Series X performance. The two consoles both have support for 120Hz screens for faster races, according to TechRadar.
Bug fixes and new events, such as a Cinco de Mayo celebration with piñata events, are included in the cross-play update. Cloud saves ensure that progress syncs across all platforms. Playground Games patches, revealed on X, cover up for some minor PS5 input lag to maintain parity. The game's 50GB footprint fits comfortably on console storage.
To begin, connecting accounts through Xbox Live or PSN enables cross-play, according to Xbox Wire. Internet speed checks guarantee lag-free racing. Joining public convoys, which are listed in-game, brings together players on different consoles.
Controls can be personalized, particularly for PS5's DualSense, to enhance handling. Tracking Forza's X account or Steam Community hubs delivers event calendars. Solo mode practice hones skills for competitive racing against mixed-platform competition.
Forza Horizon 5's cross-platform racing, released in 2025, turns the game into a co-op playground common to both PS5 and Xbox gamers. Mexico's colorful world, filled with racing and stunts, lives in co-op and competition.
The update's harmonious integration and solid performance provide a benchmark for multiplayer racing. As the gaming industry shifts toward inclusivity, Forza Horizon 5 steps up, bringing players together in high-speed thrills.
