Keep coming back for new events, challenges, collectibles, and rewards, and new areas to explore. No two seasons will ever be the same.Play on Xbox Series X and Xbox One consoles. Create your own expressions of fun with the powerful new EventLab gameplay toolset including custom races, challenges, stunts, and entirely new game modes. Customize your cars in more ways than ever before with new options such as the ability open and close convertible tops, paint brake calipers, and more.
Use the new Gift Drops feature to share your custom creations with the community. The racing game doesn't let you play with uncapped frame rates, but you can set the game to run at a locked 20, 30, or 60 frames per second. My gaming desktop, which includes a 3.2GHz Intel i CPU, Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti GPU, 8GB of RAM, and 2TB of storage, ran Forza Horizon 5 with ease. The sexy cars and lush environments moved at 60fps, though the game occasionally locked up for a few seconds at a time. Please note that a 20GB patch followed the 100GB game download, so it may take a while before you can first boot Forza Horizon 5. Forza Horizon 5 is also an impressive test case for Microsoft's cross-generational hardware strategy.
I played the game for several hours on my Xbox One X, and it doesn't feel compromised compared to anything else on the console. It's still a better-looking game than 3 and 4, and it looks more or less the same as the Series X version's 60fps mode — just running at half the frame rate. The One X is generally a machine designed for 4K/30fps games, and that's what you get here with Forza Horizon 5. Would the Series X game have looked even better if it didn't have to run on Xbox One consoles?
Maybe, but it's hard to complain about the performance on either platform. Hop on in and pick from over hundreds of world-class cars and begin your horizon adventure today. Being the fifth instalment in the series, Playground Games has taken huge steps to make the driving experience more immersive. Besides the standard campaign mode, players can take part in online multiplayer races and explore the open world with no restrictions.
Create your own expressions of fun with the new EventLab gameplay toolset including custom races, challenges, stunts and new game modes. Beginning with Forza Horizon 2, each sequel in the Playground Games-developed racing series used the previous title as a fun-filled foundation to build upon, and Forza Horizon 5 is no different. Longtime series fans will still sink hours into Forza Horizon 5, as its varied Mexico setting, ridiculously stuffed modes, and new features make it a game worth returning to on a regular basis. Newcomers, on the other hand, will be floored by the PC game's creative riches.
In short, Forza Horizon remains the best racing game series, and this Editors' Choice entry is yet another example of why it's so beloved. However, Forza Horizon 5 is on another level on Xbox Series X and it's one of the few games where I prefer the 30fps quality mode to its 60fps equivalent. The increase in fidelity and the more graceful LOD transitions combined with the upgraded visuals elevate it significantly beyond performance mode. True, it's not 60fps but the motion blur is the best I've seen in bridging the gap. Of course, it is possible to play this game at full frame-rate with Series X's mixture of high, ultra and extreme settings - and that's where the PC version comes into play.
We'll be reporting back on our testing and experiences there soon. Ultimately, Playground has delivered an excellent game for all Xbox systems. The surprise package for me was Xbox One X - level of detail pop-in and longer loading are blemishes but perhaps it's only because these areas of the game are so dramatically improved on Series hardware. Graphically, it's a treat, and the Scorpio Engine continues to surprise in its ability to service a 4K display.
Judged on its own merits, it's a good version of the game and a worthy sequel. The fact that it retains Forza's signature 1080p 4x MSAA image quality and a consistent 30fps helps immensely in mitigating some of the more obvious cuts - it adds immensely to the overall polish. Quality mode looks excellent, performance mode is locked at 60fps and for those still gaming on 1080p displays, I can't foresee any complaints.
Sometimes, I like a game just because it's fun to vibe with. This racing wonderland version of Mexico is charming, thrilling, and fun to explore. With locations that include volcanic mountains, vibrant towns, and glittering oceans, each square mile of this open playground offers amazing sights. With Forza Horizon 5, Playground Games gives you even more tools to craft custom festival vibes. The overall gameplay changes aren't quite as radical as in past years, but once the community gets their hands on EventLab, you'll enjoy a steady, fresh supply of new racing content. Plus, the fictionalized Mexico setting is simply awesome, with its varied, eye-catching biomes.
Whether you're a newcomer or a longtime series fan, Forza Horizon 5 has lets you cruise streets, blaze down steep hills, or participate in wacky contents as you unlock cars, character gear, and walled-off areas. The big new addition here is EventLab, a tool that lets you create custom races, stunts, challenges, and game modes, and it also lets you share them with others. In fact, EventLab includes many of the same tools that Playground Games uses to design in-game events. Forza Horizon 5 doesn't change the basic structure, and there's still a huge amount of stuff dotting the Mexican map.
But it does do a better job of easing you into its mountain of content. You're able to choose which specific types of events to unlock as you progress, so, for example, I preferred to focus on closed-track road races early on before delving into cross-country rallies. I feel like if I stopped playing the game and came back to it weeks later, I'd have a much better sense of what I'd been doing and where would be best for me to spend the next couple of hours. In turn, that makes me feel better about simply driving around the landscape in search of whatever esoteric quest I might come across.
Unlike with 4, I've never felt like I'm wasting my time in Forza Horizon 5, as I always have more of a sense of what I could be working toward. Forza Horizon 5 Premium Add-Ons Bundle upgrades the base game to the premium edition. It includes early access, allowing you to play the game four days early beginning November 5, 2021.
It also includes the Welcome Pack, Car Pass, VIP Membership and two game expansions when they become available. This is perfect for those who just want to play via Game Pass, but also want the benefits of early access alongside other digital incentives. Explore the vibrant and ever-evolving open world landscapes of Mexico with limitless, fun driving action in hundreds of the world's greatest cars. Take on awe-inspiring weather events such as towering dust storms and intense tropical storms as Mexico's unique, dynamic seasons change the world every week. Join us today to explore the ever-evolving, open world landscapes of Mexico with limitless, fun driving action in hundreds of the world's greatest cars.
Take on awe-inspiring weather events like towering dust storms and intense tropical storms as Mexico's unique, dynamic seasons change the world every week. Keep coming back for new events, challenges, collectibles and rewards, and new areas to explore. Pop-in can also be noticeable, at least when playing on performance mode (and if you're like me and need 60 fps, you'll be playing on performance mode).
It's not an obnoxious issue, and it's well within the norm for open-world games, but it does become more noticeable with games like this getting so close to looking like the real thing. Forza Horizon 5 is a Play Anywhere title, so if you buy it on PC via the Xbox app, you also play it on Xbox with no additional cost. Microsoft's unified video game platform means that the racer features crossplay between PC and console.
A Steam version is available for people who prefer to leverage Valve's game store and launcher. In a nice touch, Forza Horizon 5 features many accessibility options. If you haven't been making the most of early access, the countdown is very much afoot for the full release of Forza Horizon 5 - the launch time is mere hours away! Keep on reading our handy primer and we'll tell you when, and how, you can start playing this epic new racing sandbox game set in Mexico. Forza Horizon 5 is one of the biggest Xbox games of the year, and Playground Games' latest spin-off could be the best game in the entire Forza series. The new game takes us to Mexico across 11 different biomes, each unique and with altering conditions depending on the season, and art from local Mexican creators gives it a layer of cultural authenticity.
You'll be able to play it very soon with the standard edition, and you can even start playing it now if you bought one of the more expensive versions. And if you have Game Pass, you can play the whole game for free. The figures suggest that Playground Games' latest Horizon instalment could be set for a significant launch in terms of active players. Forza Horizon 5 has already enjoyed an excellent critical reception and on PC it's currently the best-selling game on Steam, despite the fact it will be available on Game Pass in three days.
Despite the name and the hundreds of accurately modeled real-world cars, Forza Horizon has little in common with Turn 10 Studios' Forza Motorsport series, which is more of a serious racing simulator. While Horizon isn't exactly a Ridge Racer-style arcade game, it's certainly on the more accessible side of things. The physics feel somewhat grounded in reality, and you'll notice big differences in how various cars handle, but the driving model is very forgiving, and it's easy for anyone to pick up and play.
If you're an arcade racing game purist, Burnout Paradise has a lot to answer for. Ever since, virtually all big-budget arcade racing games have been made in the shadow of Paradise, with most tracks consisting of lines drawn across vast, explorable maps. But there are possibilities for even more modes thanks to the new Eventlab. The new toolset lets players create their own races, game modes, and gameplay experiences, with a whole suite of customisation options. In order to play Forza Horizon 5 on the earliest date, November 5th, players need to have purchased either the Premium Edition of the game or the Premium Add-ons Bundle to the game. According to the Xbox Store website, this edition and this add-on to the game are the only ones with that early release date.
The Premium Edition is the most expensive option of the three available and costs $99.99. For this price players gain access to the game four days early, get two expansions to the game, and receive the Forza Horizon 5 Car Pass, the Welcome Pack, and the VIP Membership. The Premium Add-Ons Bundle can be purchased for an additional $49.99 for those who bought the Standard Edition of the game and adds similar benefits. Lead breathtaking expeditions across the vibrant and ever-evolving open-world landscapes of Mexico with limitless, fun driving action in hundreds of the world's greatest cars.
Crucially, there are advantages to playing Forza Horizon 5 on Series consoles that aren't just about graphics or frame-rate. Hosting the game on SSD makes for a more streamlined experience on Series consoles - and it's noticeable right from the beginning of the experience. The intro drive is a Playground staple, a spectacular preview of the action to come. It's a glorious, seamless, load-free experience on Xbox Series machines, but Xbox One consoles simply can't deliver the data for each new stage in time, leading to second pauses from one segment to the next. It looks the part, but the loading delays interrupt the flow and don't leave the best impression. While these transitions are indeed instant on the new consoles, there is still loading in the main game but it's much faster than last-gen console equivalents - around 3x to the better in my tests.
In my tests I found that - generally speaking - there are three tiers of graphics fidelity on the consoles. Xbox One is at the base of the pile, as you may expect, but still gets the job done. Xbox One X's graphics profile at dynamic 4K is broadly equivalent to the Series machines in their 60fps modes - but each version has its own plus and minus points. In some areas, Series X's performance mode seemed to deliver improved ground detail over Xbox One X. Elsewhere, Series S's textures didn't look as detailed as Xbox One X's (and resolution is lower at a dynamic 810p-1080p). Series X performance mode matches One X's 1600p-2160p DRS Plus profile - however, I do want to stress again that resolution changes are difficult to track by eye.
It's also nigh-on impossible to find any drops from the target 60fps in the Series console performance modes. You must accept the Microsoft Services Agreement (microsoft.com/msa). Xbox services and support not available in all regions (xbox.com/regions). Features and online services may vary by region and change or be retired over time.
Xbox Game Pass is Microsoft's subscription-based cloud gaming platform. There's also an "Ultimate Game Pass" which includes same-day releases for Xbox studio games. The Premium Edition includes two expansions, VIP, Car Pass, and the Welcome Pack. Right now, Microsoft is running a limited time offer for Indian gamers, where if you purchase a one-month subscription to Xbox Game Pass, you will get additional seven months at no additional cost. The base plan on PC is priced at Rs 489, and the offer is only applicable to new users.
The package includes access to over 100 quality games on Windows PC and comes with Bethesda games and a free subscription to EA Play. So, if you get this subscription today, you will be able to play Forza Horizon 5 and countless other titles for free. As part of Xbox's 20th anniversary this week, all players who log into the Forza Horizon 5, Forza Horizon 4, or Forza Motorsport 7 video games will receive a free Xbox-themed Porsche 918 Spyder car to add to their collection. The open world environments of Mexico will also change with each Forza Horizon 5 update.
With the holidays fast approaching, be on the lookout for snowmen, presents and other decorative surprises in December's Series 2 Update. There's plenty of fun new content and experiences in the works that we can't wait to share with our players – stay tuned to our Forza channels for the latest. Lead breathtaking expeditions across the vibrant and ever-evolving open world landscapes of Mexico with limitless, fun driving action in hundreds of the world's greatest cars. There is no denying that the fourth edition of the driving series is rightfully considered as one of the greatest racing games ever made, leaving a lot of pressure on Forza Horizon 5 to shine on the brand new consoles.
But sometimes a game can be so pretty that it helps you appreciate an experience that you would normally feel mild about. For example, I'm not the biggest racing game fan in the world. When I do enjoy a racer, it's usually a more arcadey experience like Ridge Racer Type 4 or the more recent Cruis'n Blast. It's a games preservation issue that needs to be addressed, and one reason that I value unlicensed racing games that can stand the test of time, such as Burnout Paradise and Split/Second. Forza Horizon 5 early access has begun today, which is why you may see other players enjoying it online.
However, for those who want to play the racing game as part of their Game Pass subscription, you'll be left waiting until next week. Premium Edition is the only way you'll be able to play today, while everyone else can join in on November 9. Forza Horizon 5 releases on November 9th for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One and PC. It's set in Mexico and features 11 different biomes with their own respective weather conditions, over 400 cars and extensive multiplayer modes.
Beyond its slight but welcome tweaks to the unlocking system, Forza Horizon 5 makes hardly any progress on its predecessors in terms of game design. It really is as if the previous couple of games just got airlifted to Mexico and received an extreme technical glow-up. The setting is everything in Forza Horizon — it's what dictates and defines the endless firehose of races and championships and quests, not to mention the future expansions that have already been confirmed. Similar multiplayer content from previous games will be included, allowing players to partake in a variety of street races. More modes will be included, including the ability for players to create their own races and game modes. Explore the vibrant and ever-evolving open-world landscapes of Mexico with limitless, fun driving action in hundreds of the world's greatest cars.
Playground Games has delivered their latest masterpiece with Forza Horizon 5, which features the series' most diverse map and largest car list yet. Forza Horizon 5 somehow fulfills its ambitious promises to be the best open-world racer right now, and one of the best racing games in general. Our Forza Horizon 5 review concluded that Playground Games has crafted a class-leading racing game that promises to set the bar for years to come.
