Forza Horizon 5 Launches on PlayStation on April 29 with Improved Graphics for PS5 Pro.

      Xbox Game Studios

      Approximately a month ago, we discovered that something once thought impossible would soon occur—a Forza game is finally making its way to PlayStation, and it's happening quickly. Scheduled for this spring, Forza Horizon 5 has now officially set its release date for April 29.

      As is common these days, that date marks the launch of the standard edition; however, if you opt for the Premium edition at $100, you can access the game four days earlier, on April 25. Premium purchasers also receive both the Hot Wheels and Rally Adventure expansions, along with the car pass and VIP perks, which include benefits like doubled race rewards and weekly Super Wheelspins that give random prizes.

      I played FH5 at its initial launch for Xbox and PC four years ago, and in my opinion, this game is actually best enjoyed without purchasing all the extras. Players are rewarded frequently and easily in Horizon, so being overwhelmed with free items for simply playing can lessen the thrill of the experience. That being said, the two expansions are substantial and distinct enough from the main game that they are worthy of exploration once you’ve completed everything else.

      Additionally, FH5's arrival on PS5 introduces the Horizon Realms feature. Playground Games describes it as “a curated collection of some of the community’s favorite previously released Evolving Worlds,” a description that assumes some familiarity with what “Worlds” are in this game. From what I gather in the trailer below, these are temporary zones with unique themes, ranging from beach settings to winter wonderlands, including areas that resemble something out of Tron, some of which are located in the map’s soccer stadium. There are a total of 12. I apologize for not being fully updated—I haven’t played this game in at least two years, which is practically an eternity in the Forza Horizon universe.

      What I do know and would be eager to explore are some of the newer vehicles being introduced, such as the Hyundai Vision N 74 and a genuine Nissan Pike Factory Car Pack. Yes, you read that right—the Pao, Figaro, Be-1, and Scargo will all be part of FH5, something that even we older gamers can appreciate.

      Along with the launch date announcement, the Forza team has revealed how graphical settings will function on PS5. For the standard console, players will have the same options between a 60 frames-per-second Performance mode and a 30 fps Quality mode, similar to Xbox Series X. Naturally, the PS5 Pro will enhance the experience; the Performance mode will provide “increased visual fidelity”—potentially an upgraded base rendering resolution and improved settings overall—while the Quality mode will remain at 30 fps but incorporate “ray-traced car reflections during races and free roam.” Ray tracing is already possible on consoles when viewing cars in the dealership and the player's garage, which is why that detail is specified for PS5 Pro.

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