It's a scenario that sounded like a bad joke just a few years ago: Microsoft is bringing out "Forza Horizon 5“on the PlayStation 5. And while PS5 owners gleefully speed off into the virtual Mexican sunset, Sony is left behind on the side of the road – empty-handed and glancing questioningly in the rearview mirror. The most successful open-world racer of the last decade lands on the rival platform of all platforms – and shows Sony in no uncertain terms what a modern arcade racer looks like. What was once considered a genre gimmick has long since become a prestige project – just without Sony.”
Microsoft overtakes Sony – in Sony's garage
"Forza Horizon 5" isn't some minor side project that just happens to be on the PS5. It's a genre leader, acclaimed by critics, beloved by fans – and now also available to a Sony audience that previously only had the option of playing games on a narrow, unwieldy platform. Gran TurismoPlayers could choose between classic races or long-forgotten arcade highlights like "MotorStorm." The key: Microsoft doesn't deliver a tired port, but a polished, fully featured package. Comprehensive, technically top-notch, and convincingly engaging.
And that's resonating. With a Metascore of 92 and Praise from international magazines "Forza Horizon 5" will also become the benchmark for arcade racers on the PS5. The message is clear: Sony has fallen behind in this segment – and by a direct rival, no less.
The arcade racer as a Sony construction site
Sony has consistently ignored the arcade racer genre in recent years – or worse: systematically abandoned it. "Destruction AllStars"? An uninspired disaster of a game that, despite elaborate marketing, fizzled out like a bad stunt. "ModNation Racers"? Once an ambitious Mario Kart killer with a track editor, now forgotten. And "Gran Turismo 7"? A technical simulation lacking any heart for spontaneous enjoyment – certainly interesting for purists, but a far cry from the feeling of "Forza Horizon," which makes you want to start your next adventure right from the menu screen.
And then there's "Drive Club"Sony's last serious hope for an arcade racer, which, despite initial problems, developed into a popular title with an active community – only to be ignominiously canceled later. No reboot, no sequel, not even a proper farewell. Instead of building on its potential, Sony simply let the project rust away. A mistake that is felt more clearly today than ever."
The Crew Motorfest & Forza: Two wake-up calls, one silence
And Microsoft is far from alone in its pursuit of this. Ubisoft has also released "The Crew Motorfest" impressively provedThe arcade racer genre is alive and well – technically powerful, cleverly designed, and with a clear target audience in mind. "Forza Horizon 5" now takes it a step further: bigger, louder, better. Two current genre hits, neither from Sony. Instead of competing themselves, Sony is letting the competition overtake them unchallenged. And this from a company that likes to portray itself as an innovation leader in the industry – a contradiction that is becoming rather embarrassing.
Sony certainly has the resources, talent, and network to compete in this genre. But apparently, the will is lacking. No project in sight, no studio passionately dedicated to this subject. And meanwhile, Microsoft, Ubisoft & Co. are occupying a niche that never existed. It's an established stage of the racing game market: open world, maximum driving fun, easy entry – combined with striking presentation.
Sony, get a move on!
We don't need another "Gran Turismo," no graphically enhanced simulation monster that's only fun with a steering wheel. We need a title that puts driving enjoyment front and center – with personality, with wit, with speed. "Forza Horizon 5" is a gift for PS5 players, but also a kick in the shins for Sony. When even Microsoft starts releasing its best titles on the PS5, it's not a concession – it's a show of force.
Sony can still turn things around. But to do so, they need to remember projects like "DriveClub" or "MotorStorm"—not to wallow in nostalgia, but to recognize what they had and carelessly gave away. What's missing isn't talent—but the courage to try again. And to do it properly.
Yes, exactly – one of the selling points and arguably the most important title for the Xbox is coming to the rival platform – which must be an absolute fever dream, a nightmare, and a trauma. It's like dissolving FC Barcelona and integrating them into the Real Madrid team or something.
AND SONY NEEDS TO TURN THINGS BACK ON??? LOL, which utterly miserable Xbox fan wrote that?
Rather a damning indictment of MS
Anyone who relies on releasing their games on a competing platform, especially games that look better than on the Xbox, is facing a technical knockout.
Sony hasn't been as dominant as it was during the PS4 era for quite some time now… And yet the monstrous PS5 is still selling… Well, more luck than skill.
By the way, I don't know if the leaks are real, but Forza Horizon 6 is supposed to be set in Japan.
They have the slogan "play has no limit" and yet they limit it themselves…
First of all, and I must mention this especially because of my recent criticism, the headline is brilliant. Perfect and fits like a glove.
Regarding Forza Horizon itself, opinions on part 5 are quite divided, and there are differing views on its quality and direction. I've also played the other Horizon games, and well... let's leave it at that. This installment was met with a mixture of anticipation and disappointment by many.
Regarding the news itself:
Feel free to write dozens more opinion pieces, because the problem doesn't only affect racing games!
On Xbox, you also have access (purchase) to the old classics like Halo, Gears of War, Fable, etc., even without a subscription…
Sony only offers the titles via subscription.
Sony no longer has any first-person shooters and is letting franchises like Resistance and Killzone completely wither away. We're supposed to be happy that Killzone skins are coming to Helldivers... that's about it.
Games like Shadow of the Colossus or ICO no longer exist either.
Apart from Astro, a Demon's Souls remake, and Ratchet, there are no truly imaginative games.
No original horror games (until Dawn remake…really?)
No first-person shooters
No adventures
No role-playing games
Nothing.
Only third-person games that all try to be serious and realistic. Games that involve a lot of button-mashing and simply follow the same formula.
I'm not a Microsoft fan, but…
Avowed, south of midnight, oblivion remake, atomic fall (gamepass), doom next month
Yes, Sony thinks, "Why should we do that? Microsoft will take care of it," according to the motto...
Yes, you're right.
I'm currently playing Warhammer: Space Marine 2, a really awesome third-person shooter in the style of Gears. It's sad that they're not even capable of making something like that.
Above all, Sony has the money to develop exactly these kinds of games, and they actually have some seriously awesome studios that could pull it off. But that's precisely what I mean—games that are so epically staged, where it's really all about action and fun, about successfully fighting evil, demons, and monsters, awesome stuff, and where the drama aspect isn't important at all because it's not about f****** drama, it's about action, that sort of thing! Sony makes such dry stuff that all tries to be super realistic and is only ever allowed a hint of fantasy, if that. Imagine what a God of War would look like, for example, if the Warhammer people had developed it! So for me, Devil Fruit 5 is more God of War than the last two God of War installments. Ghost of Yotai will be exactly the same thing again. Just like Assassin's Creed, but again with a huge focus on characters, personal history, flashbacks to all the terrible things that have been done to them, anger, hopelessness, grief, revenge, and so on and so forth, so that you can really empathize with the poor, poor girl. That's the only thing Sony can still do; that's all they can do anymore.
Astro's Playroom was the only exception, and that was from a Japanese studio, which apparently no longer holds any significance for Sony. So, the one exception we ever got. It's just sad what Sony, the PlayStation studio, has become.
Yeah, the Yotai thing is definitely going to happen, you already saw it in the trailer. I'm already not looking forward to it, even though Ghost 1 was the best game of the PS4 generation for me (followed by Days Gone).
Yes, Space Marine 2 feels like a game by men for men from the 90s; it's ridiculous, but in such a refreshing way, it's good again.
Because they don't address all the bullshit either.
But they have shooters like Destiny, (Concord), Marathon, and Helldivers
Seriously?
Destination is finished, Destination 2 was a fail from the start, and the entire Destination brand has nothing to do with Sony. They bought Bungie at rock bottom for a ridiculously high and disproportionate sum.
Destiny is a flop that is slowly dying.
Helldivers is a PvE online only third-person service game.
Marathon: The same + will flop
We're talking about proper, real games, like campaign-story shooters such as Resistance, Killzone, Halo, Half-Life, etc. Sony has plenty of service crap, yes... but those aren't "real" games that you "enjoy" and think back on.
So yeah… Sony has some great third-person realism drama games and service titles. That's why the PS5 wasn't worth it.
I can only agree, even though I wouldn't buy another racing game.
What's the status of your PC? Are you still considering it?
Yes, financially things are still a bit difficult; I'm waiting for a financial injection (then I might have access to €1000).
And in my case, I need a powerful computer for work with Adobe programs.
Either it will be a laptop that I can also use for drawing, but then I won't use it for gaming, or I'll get a handheld PC (my favorite is the Zotac Zone 2, which isn't out yet). That will definitely be used for gaming and work, and for drawing I can use my Samsung S9 or S25 Ultra via USB cable and a great display app. A tower PC or mini PC is an option for me; those are true work machines. I want something with a console-like look. Handheld PCs are ideal for that.