Forza Horizon 5

[Sheikah]

17 minutes ago, Julius said:

Oh, I get you now, didn't know you were on about that promotion. Honestly, that's a fair point in those cases, though I doubt most outside of the gaming industry's web of news made use of it? But that could just be a totally misplaced hunch of mine. I know I'd totally be on it too if I had an Xbox right now, though I'd probably also be one of those ponying up for the Premium Bundle too.  

I honestly don't think I want to try to get my head around how much Xbox have had to haemorrhage to offer promotions like that. I think it will be really interesting to see when the price goes up (I'd assume when Starfield releases next year), and how they're going to keep the model sustainable. 

But I've probably derailed the thread enough, so to get back on topic: to those of you playing, which car/s are you mainly driving around? Is there a particular car that you're really looking forward to taking for a spin? 

I suspect it's probably quite well known because the Game Pass promotion is very heavily advertised in several places. Also everyone who had XBL Gold time back before Game Pass had launched (who then went on to sub to GP) would have become aware of this trick, since as soon as they subbed to Game Pass it would have converted their XBL Gold time to Game Pass time automatically.

You'll also have people subbing to Game Pass for a month or a year just to play this game, but that will still mean people will be getting it far cheaper than they would have if they had to buy the game (which makes it a much easier sell).

Edited November 10, 2021 by Sheikah

[RedShell]

Well, so far I've purchased the best (most hilarious) looking car I could find, tuned it to a ludicrous level of performance considering its appearance, and found an excellent spot on the map to drive it off at insanely high speed:

So I'm pretty happy with the game.

Oh yeah, messed about with the custom livery thing a little bit too...
Pay attention to my custom number plate before and after that jump.

[bob]

Well, so far I've purchased the best (most hilarious) looking car I could find, tuned it to a ludicrous level of performance considering its appearance, and found an excellent spot on the map to drive it off at insanely high speed:

So I'm pretty happy with the game.
Oh yeah, messed about with the custom livery thing a little bit too...
Pay attention to my custom number plate before and after that jump. [emoji6]

Tell me you didn't feel the urge to parachute out of that car at the peak of the jump?

[Happenstance]

Someone posted the car design they made that got them banned from the game

[martinist]

Is there any way to see the make and model of the car that a design in "My Designs" is supposed to be applied to? Seems like a really stupid and obvious oversight to me.

[Cube]

2 hours ago, martinist said:

Is there any way to see the make and model of the car that a design in "My Designs" is supposed to be applied to? Seems like a really stupid and obvious oversight to me.

I don't think there is, it's a bit odd really. I had a look at some designs I liked then realised I have no idea what car they're for. All I can identify is "it's a car".

[drahkon]

Played this for a bit and it sure is pretty. 

Other than that, not for me. Gonna be the same way with Gran Turismo 7 as soon as I'll get to try that one  

Just gimme another Burnout with graphics like these, please  

[Shorty]

I played this on PC for a while, was having fun... then just got soooo suddenly bored with it. Maybe its the Gamepass thing where I don't feel like there's any value behind whether I play it or not, but I just don't feel invested. Also I absolutely cannot stand the organisation of the quests. I kept being told I was still doing some championship that I didn't know I'd started, and I couldn't tell how to resume.

Meh. Burnout Paradise is still better.

[Goafer]

49 minutes ago, Shorty said:

I played this on PC for a while, was having fun... then just got soooo suddenly bored with it. Maybe its the Gamepass thing where I don't feel like there's any value behind whether I play it or not, but I just don't feel invested. Also I absolutely cannot stand the organisation of the quests. I kept being told I was still doing some championship that I didn't know I'd started, and I couldn't tell how to resume.

Meh. Burnout Paradise is still better.

I'm pretty much the same. Played the hell out of FH4 and it's easily my favourite facing game, but 5 didn't grip me at all.

One thing that really bothers me is the difficulty. I could win pretty much any race against Highly Skilled AI in FH4, but I really struggle in 5. Not because the AI are any better, but because the car balancing is straight bullshit. The car balancing in 4 was great, so you could show up in any car and the AI would (mostly) be evenly matched. In 5, theyre almost always unfairly faster in terms of acceleration and speed. It's completely demotivated me to buy new cars and modify them, which was the main fun of the FH games for me.

It's a shame, as I love the setting and the series as a whole.

[Cube]

I think on certain difficulties, one of the AI racers is artificially faster than the other ones.

[Julius]

It is being teased that this is going to be getting ported to other platforms, with a potential announcement next week at Gamescom:

Would absolutely love if it's the case – the Forza games are probably the biggest pull for me to buy an Xbox right now (and no, it's not enough, we've been over this ).

This is the game I've been talking to my friends about wanting ported over from Xbox's catalog, over Gears and Halo and the like. 

Please, for the love of all that is good in gaming, be true! 

[Hero-of-Time]

Big, if true. I can see it selling great on the PlayStation. It will serve the GT audience very well.

[Dcubed]

Would do utter gangbusters if true... and also basically spell the end of Xbox as a hardware manufacturer.

Forza is one of the Xbox's big 3 IP (Halo, Forza, Gears), so if that comes to PS5? They're all coming.

[Julius]

5 hours ago, Hero-of-Time said:

Big, if true. I can see it selling great on the PlayStation. It will serve the GT audience very well.

Yeah, it would be absolutely huge. 

PlayStation just doesn't have an open world racing game on the level of the Forza Horizon games, the closest thing I can think of to filling that gap (and is also available everywhere) currently would be The Crew Motorfest, which well...

I'm glad GT and Polyphony have stuck to their routes, but I'm shocked PlayStation hasn't made a move to acquire someone capable of taking the assets built in the GT games and creating an open world spin-off series akin to Horizon. 

I think if FH5 does come over it'll comfortably be the bestselling of any of Xbox's first-party exclusives to come over – I genuinely think the only other released game from them this gen to maybe challenge that would probably be a Starfield port. 

34 minutes ago, Dcubed said:

Would do utter gangbusters if true... and also basically spell the end of Xbox as a hardware manufacturer.

Forza is one of the Xbox's big 3 IP (Halo, Forza, Gears), so if that comes to PS5? They're all coming.

I mean, Xbox have basically said everything in a very roundabout way about their games coming over anyways, but with how that escalated and how poorly they've communicated a lot of it...they probably are all coming  I just think they've propped themselves up between a rock and a hard place and basically need to 127 Hours themselves out of there. 

 

Anyways, there was an update on this where apparently Forza Horizon 5 isn't going to be the game announced next week (presumably at Gamescom), but everyone and their mother is saying that it's coming at some point. 

Personally, I think it'd make a great TGAs shadowdrop. But there's still something being announced next week, apparently...so I'll move this part of the conversation over to the Series X|S thread 

Edited August 15, 2024 by Julius

[drahkon]

5 minutes ago, Julius said:

open world racing game

Lots of people here sweating with excitement, I'd wager

6 minutes ago, Julius said:

Oh, so you've played Daxter, too?

[Julius]

Coming to PS5 this spring! I've been waiting for this! 

Holy. Shit. Day 1.

I might finally have a reason to put GT7 down?!  

Edited January 30 by Julius

[Dcubed]

Wow.  History in the making!

The Surrender of Xbox

I know that we knew this would happen eventually, but this is a huge moment in gaming history because this is one of the Xbox’s Big Three; second only to Gears and Halo.

Can’t say that I would’ve imagined things going this way back in 2020 when the PS5 and Series X launched.  Would’ve figured that we’d still get one more hardware generation out of Microsoft, or that any multiplatform lateral movement would remain Nintendo console exclusive (the enemy of my enemy is my friend after all).

And so Xbox meets its end.  A pretty sad way to go really, without the pomp and fanfare that SEGA got, or even the commiseration.

[Julius]

More details on the release from Forza.net:

Quote

The Horizon Festival Welcomes a New Community of Players.

With nearly 900 cars available in the game, over 40 thematic game updates, two expansions, and so much more content, our team is excited to announce that this spring, PlayStation 5 players will be able to explore Mexico’s beautiful roads and experience the Horizon Festival for the first time as we are officially launching Forza Horizon 5 on PS5.

Quote

The PlayStation 5 version of Forza Horizon 5, developed by Panic Button in partnership with Turn 10 Studios and Playground Games, will have the same content as the Xbox and PC releases of the game. Previously released Car Packs, as well as the Hot Wheels and Rally Adventure expansions, will also be available for purchase.

We are excited to see the Forza Horizon 5 community grow with new players on PS5, and we can't wait to see the creativity and skill these new creators, builders, and racers will bring to our vibrant community.

Quote

In addition to bringing Forza Horizon 5 to PS5, we’re working on a special new free content update for all platforms, Horizon Realms. Realms will give players the chance to explore a curated collection of some of the community’s favorite previously released Evolving Worlds, alongside some other surprises. Stay tuned to our channels for more details soon.

Quote

Wishlist Forza Horizon 5 on the PlayStation Store today to stay informed about updates and release times. If you already own the game on another platform, share the news with your friends in the PS5 community and tell them to get ready to join your convoys as cross-play will be available for all Forza Horizon 5 players across Xbox consoles, PC and PS5.

Panic Button doing this port is a very good sign given that they're a dedicated port studio and they've been behind the modern Doom ports to Switch, amongst a whole host of others, but I do have some questions. 

Firstly: does this get a physical release? I'd lean towards not given that other Xbox Game Studios releases haven't up until this point, but then, they've all been multiplayer or smaller scale titles so far – this and Indy feel like the first full-price AAA releases we've seen from them on PlayStation. There is also the fact that even first-party games on Xbox like Hellblade II: Senua's Saga didn't get physical releases on Xbox last year.

Still, that'd be a hell of a collector's piece, hence my curiosity. 

Secondly: will this have adaptive trigger and haptic feedback support? Last I checked these weren't available features on Xbox Series controllers, but they're key features of the DualSense, so I'm curious is Panic Button are going to add support for those features in? 

As far as I'm aware the other Xbox Game Studios games to come to PlayStation have all done so with full trophy support, so I'm expecting a Forza Horizon 5 Platinum. That'll be fun! 

Between this and Indy being scheduled for a Spring release, both of which I'll be getting Day 1, as well as the other rumoured and confirmed games coming from XGS this year to other platforms, I have to imagine this is going to be the best year for Xbox as a publisher since the 360 (I'm also fairly sure I never played that many Xbox first-party games in a single year on my own 360 back in the day, so to have two in the same quarter is pretty wild!)...and depending on what else they get out - like that rumoured Oblivion remake - maybe ever? 

They've bottled their handling of supposedly competing with PlayStation completely over the last decade, but getting the chance to play some of their great games elsewhere makes me happy and, as I've said before, a bit sad for those who committed to Xbox at the start of this gen when picking up a Series X|S. I'm especially happy with how they started with smaller titles and multiplayer games to help them grow, because I'm sure many other businesses would've jumped in the deep end with Halo, Gears of War and Forza ports from the get-go – this feels a bit more planned out, even if it wasn't their initial goal when Phil Spencer took over so long ago. 

We've been getting State of Plays in February pretty consistently for a good while now – maybe we get release dates for this and Indy then? 

[Julius]

Yep this feels weird

[bob]

2 hours ago, Julius said:

Yep this feels weird

Why does that look like it could be the cover art for Just Cause 5?

[Julius]

21 minutes ago, bob said:

Why does that look like it could be the cover art for Just Cause 5?

It's probably the slight Mexican tint to it all, the fauna, the random off-road car darting towards the water's edge, and the nice clear waters 

[Julius]

Releases on PS5 on April 29th, early access on the 25th for those getting the Premium Edition:

Already up on the PS Store for pre-order:

£54.99 for Standard, £69.99 for Deluxe, and £84.99 for Premium. 

The game will have trophy support:

Quote

Dive into Horizon Realms! Explore 12 Evolving Worlds: 11 previously limited-time only locations and the completely new Horizon Stadium Circuit.

New PlayStation Trophies, in-game badges, and accolades will be available to obtain. For the first time ever, earning accolades will unlock new reward cars!

Play on your own or with friends on every platform when Horizon Realms goes live on April 25.

Pre-order Forza Horizon 5 on the PlayStation Store. Get the Premium Edition for Early Access starting on April 25.

And finally, PS5 and PS5 Pro modes confirmed:

Quote

Forza Horizon 5 on PS5 features two rendering modes to choose from: Performance (60fps) and Quality (30fps).

On PS5 Pro, the Performance mode receives increased visual fidelity, while Quality mode adds ray traced car reflections to Races and Free Roam.

No word yet on a physical release. Not expecting one, to be honest. 

Anyways, I can't wait! Struggling to not see myself picking up the Premium Edition 

Now give us an update on Indy, you fools! 

Edited 4 hours ago by Julius

[S.C.G]

59 minutes ago, Julius said:

No word yet on a physical release. Not expecting one, to be honest.

Really? This is the first time Forza gets released on a Playstation platform, and there's no physical release planned?

Oh well, no disc, no sale.

If games are going to be digital only on both PS5/6 and Xbox platforms, there will need to be some kind of Games Pass equivalent on Playstation, otherwise I can't see this doing as well as it could.

Also, the pricing... £54.99 for Standard, £69.99 for Deluxe, and £84.99 for Premium?

I like Forza Horizon, but not that much.

Though I'm glad for those who will be happy paying the price and playing it on day one on PS5.

[Julius]

1 hour ago, S.C.G said:

Really? This is the first time Forza gets released on a Playstation platform, and there's no physical release planned?

Oh well, no disc, no sale.

Yeah, I think that's fair enough. 

Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see one. The reason I struggle to see it happening is simply because Hellblade II didn't when it launched on Series X|S last year, and none of the other games to come over from them so far have had a physical version release on PS5 either – I think Microsoft are pushing harder for digital than they are even Game Pass at this point, I can see them viewing it as unnecessary overhead whereas doing away with a physical release here means a potentially faster turnaround from announcement to launch. 

That being said, physical PS5 pre-orders are up in Spain for Indiana Jones and The Great Circle, so perhaps it will get one? Wonder if it's going to be like Nintendo and their music – a studio needs to be pushing for it to get out there, like Monolith Soft does for Xenoblade, as an example? 

1 hour ago, S.C.G said:

If games are going to be digital only on both PS5/6 and Xbox platforms, there will need to be some kind of Games Pass equivalent on Playstation, otherwise I can't see this doing as well as it could.

I think Xbox doing what they should have all along here - available on Game Pass and piecemeal on Xbox, full price on PlayStation and other storefronts - is the smart move, as it still leaves Game Pass as an enticing prospect and good value proposition, but if you want what should be an exclusive game on the other big box? Pay up! 

I think it'll do gangbusters on PS5, The Crew Motorfest is the closest thing we've got to a Horizon game on PlayStation at the moment and Forza is in a whole other league – it's an audience which isn't being served on the platform, what with GT7 being a more hardcore racing sim. 

Wasn't that crazy $1 per month or whatever it was deal for Game Pass Ultimate still running around then, too? Even if not, I think with a much larger install base just being later on in the gen (and obviously compared to Series X|S), I'm thinking this makes Xbox more cash in a week on PS5 than it managed to in the 3½ years it has been [console] exclusive to Xbox. 

1 hour ago, S.C.G said:

Also, the pricing... £54.99 for Standard, £69.99 for Deluxe, and £84.99 for Premium?

Yeah, fair again I think! 

A game which is 3½ years old being sold at that sort of price is kind of nuts, but it seems of the quality, critical reception and appeal which warrants it. Xbox seem to at least know the value of the thing, I think £40 for Standard for example would be underselling the game, especially seeing as it's getting updates to this day. 

What maybe doesn't sit quite right with me is the Premium Edition in this case? The game already released 3½ years ago, I feel like early access is about getting it ahead of initial release, not so much a staggered one like we've seen here  still, it'll make money, and because I've been a bit wiser with my spending on games so far this year, I'd be happy to drop another £30 to get the game a few days earlier, and on a Friday, no less! Might even book the day off for it, if not the Monday 

[Julius]

Oh dear, @S.C.G, seems there's already an update on the plans for a physical release on PS5: there are none (currently), per the game's Twitter/X account. 

Can't say I'm surprised, but this still sucks. Then again, outside of the reasons I mentioned before, I kind of get it from a PR perspective – can you imagine how it would look and the headlines it would generate to have a physical copy of the next Halo game on PS5? It would be a total brand meltdown and physical embodiment of admitting defeat. 

Edited 3 minutes ago by Julius