It's been a weird few years following Xbox, we must admit. A distinct shift in strategy has led to Microsoft spearheading a multiplatform plan that has, eventually, led to one of its biggest gaming franchises moving over to PlayStation - something that would have been unheard of just a couple of years ago. Well, we're here, in this strange new future, playing some Forza Horizon 5 on PS5 - and it's bloody weird.
To kick things off here, FH5 remains a fantastic game, as most avid Xbox fans could have told you at least a few years back. The game looks and runs as smooth as ever on Sony's current-gen console, and it certainly hasn't aged at all since its late 2021 release. We don't have a PS5 Pro on-hand to test out that higher-spec version unfortunately, but the game running in performance mode looks very similar to its Xbox Series X counterpart - no complaints there.
However, just using the DualSense controller and seeing those PlayStation button prompts in Forza Horizon 5 feels really strange. We get it, it's just another big plastic box with a PC-like console underneath playing a modern open-world racing game, but we still feel like we're wrapping our heads around the idea of a Forza game being on PlayStation at this stage. R2 to accelerate? Triangle to rewind? What in the darn heck is going on here.
Speaking of the DualSense, Sony's PS5 controller does mark one of the key differences in game feel when switching over from Xbox to PS5. We wouldn't say this is the strongest use of the technology based on our admittedly limited playtime so far - but it does make a difference, especially when it comes to accelerating and braking. The adaptive triggers give you a better sense of how the car is performing overall, and you have a little more control, particularly when braking. The DualSense isn't game-changing for Forza Horizon 5, but it's a nice addition to the PS5 version of the game, and we'd really like to see something similar on Xbox soon.