Is Forza Horizon 5's Price on PS5 a Rip-Off or Worth Every Penny?

Forza Horizon 5 will be available on PlayStation 5, as Xbox Game Studios is moving towards functioning more like a third-party game publisher over time.

It’s significant news for PlayStation as they’ve been quite envious of Microsoft’s open-world racer for some time now.

Sony has established its reputation by creating exceptional arcade racer games, such as the outstanding Ridge Racer Type 4 and the undervalued DriveClub. However, the market has been less than generous to this genre, and unfortunately, the PlayStation 5 hasn’t fully compensated for the void left in it.

Currently, it’s important to highlight The Crew 2 and its successor The Crew Motorfest as they have been leading the way in arcade racing games for some time now, with developer Ivory Tower spearheading this movement. These titles are undeniably excellent – however, they are not quite like Forza Horizon 5.

This development leads us straight to the topic at hand: The racing game from Playground Games, which will be available on Sony’s platform starting 29th April, boasts full PS5 Pro and DualSense compatibility. However, there’s a twist in the tale…

As a gamer, I’ve found myself questioning the pricing structure of this new release. The base game will cost me around $59.99 or £54.99, and if I want the Car Pass, which seems like an essential addition to me, I have to fork out an extra $79.99 or £69.99 for the Deluxe Edition. It’s a bit steep, don’t you think?

However, it’s the Premium Edition that truly stands out, priced at an astonishing $99.99 or £84.99. This version offers a four-day head start, a feature known as “Early Access,” for a game initially released in 2021, which some might consider overpriced given its age.

The Premium Edition, at $99.99 or £84.99, is the real showstopper. It comes with four days of “Early Access,” a feature that seems quite pricey considering the game was first released in 2021.

It’s only right to acknowledge that Microsoft charges the same price for the game on the Xbox Store, implying that they are not exploiting or overcharging PlayStation 5 users in this instance.

Typically, when a game is released late on a platform, the publisher might compensate by lowering the price or adding bonus content. If they were to provide all the Premium Edition features for $59.99/£54.99, we wouldn’t question it. Regrettably, this isn’t happening in this case.

While it offers a quick peek into Xbox’s aspirations, remember that there won’t be any price reductions for the delayed versions of Halo: The Master Chief Collection, Gears of War, and Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 when they are eventually released.

One point we’d like to emphasize is that the company doesn’t shy away from offering its software at discounted prices after release: Games like Sea of Thieves, Hi-Fi Rush, and Grounded have all been available with attractive deals on the PlayStation Store since their launch. So, if you’re willing to wait, there’s a good chance you’ll find a sale price eventually.

As a gaming enthusiast, I can confidently say that Forza Horizon 5 is bound to perform exceptionally on the PS5 – it’s exactly the kind of game PlayStation fans have been eagerly anticipating. It seems like Microsoft has caught onto this, and they’ve strategically priced the game in a way that feels fair. I can’t wait to get my hands on it!

Although there’s no physical edition planned and no immediate incentives for PS5 players, we can’t help but feel that this release could have been even more monumental. As it is now, it will undoubtedly be successful – but with some adjustments to the publisher’s launch approach, it might have achieved the extraordinary.

1. Do you believe Forza Horizon 5 is overpriced considering it’s a port (a version of a game that has been developed for a different platform)?
2. Are you simply thrilled to finally see the game come out on PS5?
3. Will you be purchasing the game on its release day, or are you planning to wait for a sale instead? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

2025-03-01 03:36

Is Forza Horizon 5’s Price on PS5 a Rip-Off or Worth Every Penny?

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