The Futile Hype: Why Pre-Ordering Forza Horizon 5 on PS5 in 2026 Makes Zero Sense

As the gaming world moves deeper into 2026, the industry's fascination with reviving and reselling older titles continues with perplexing vigor. The recent announcement of Forza Horizon 5's long-awaited PlayStation 5 port, set for release years after its initial 2021 debut, has reignited a familiar and frustrating conversation about modern publishing strategies. While Playground Games' open-world racing masterpiece remains a technical and creative marvel, its arrival on a new platform in 2026 is wrapped in a pricing and pre-order model that seems utterly disconnected from reality. This isn't a welcome party for a beloved game; it's a case study in how publishers leverage platform loyalty and FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) to extract maximum value from content that has been widely available and heavily discounted elsewhere for years.

The Three-Tiered Trap: Dissecting the PS5 Editions

Microsoft's multiplatform strategy for this belated release is straightforward: offer multiple editions at escalating price points, each promising more "stuff." But what exactly is being sold here? Let's break it down:

The premium edition is the real head-scratcher. It asks players to pay nearly $90 for a game that is:

1. Over five years old.

2. Available on Xbox Game Pass for a monthly subscription fee that is a fraction of this cost.

3. Frequently on sale for Xbox and PC for as low as $20-$30 for the complete edition.

The inclusion of "five days early access" is the most cynical part. Why would anyone need early access to a game whose every road, car, and expansion has been thoroughly explored by millions of players since 2021? It's a manufactured perk designed to create artificial scarcity and urgency for a product that is the opposite of scarce.

The Slippery Slope of "Early Access" Incentives

Microsoft is far from the first publisher to employ this tactic, but the context makes it particularly egregious. Remember the infamous 'Augment Your Pre-order' campaign for Deus Ex: Mankind Divided? Square Enix attempted to gate content like digital art books and even a release date shift behind pre-order milestones.

The backlash was swift and severe, forcing the publisher to retreat. Yet, the core idea—pay more, play earlier—survived and thrived. In the years since, it has become a standard, normalized part of big-budget releases:

• Star Wars Outlaws

• Avowed

• Starfield

• Call of Duty titles

For new games, one can at least comprehend the psychology. A superfan might pay a premium to be among the first to experience a fresh universe. But applying this model to a half-decade-old port is a new level of audacity. It transforms "early access" from a questionable bonus into a transparent cash-grab, leveraging the excitement of a new platform audience who may have missed the game's original launch.

The PS5 Proposition: What Are You Actually Buying?

Let's be clear: Forza Horizon 5 on PS5 will be a fantastic game. Playground Games' Mexico is stunning, the car list is immense, and the expansions are top-tier. The promised Pro support will likely make it one of the best-looking racers on the system. But is that worth the premium asking price in 2026?

Consider the alternatives available right now:

• Xbox Game Pass: For the cost of one month's subscription (often around $10-$15), you can play the entire game, with all its updates, on Xbox, PC, or via cloud streaming. This has been true since 2021.

• Existing Platforms: Physical and digital copies for Xbox and PC are routinely sold at deep discounts. The "complete" experience can often be had for less than the price of the PS5 standard edition.

The only conceivable reasons to pay full price for the PS5 version are:

1. An exclusive desire for PlayStation Trophies over Xbox Achievements.

2. A complete lack of access to any other gaming platform.

3. A compelling, demonstrable technical advantage unique to the PS5 port that hasn't been revealed.

For the vast majority of players, none of these justify an $90 outlay. The value proposition is fundamentally broken.

A Lesson in Consumer Patience

The trajectory for games like this is predictable. The PS5 version of Forza Horizon 5 will likely follow the same path as its predecessors:

1. Launch at full price with premium editions.

2. Receive positive reviews (for the game itself, not the pricing).

3. Go on sale within 3-6 months, with discounts of 25-33%.

4. Be part of major seasonal sales (e.g., Black Friday 2026) with discounts of 50% or more.

5. Potentially be included in a PlayStation Plus catalog in 2027 or beyond.

Pre-ordering, especially the premium edition, is essentially paying a hefty tax for impatience. You are spending extra money to play a very old game a few days earlier on a new console, foregoing the certainty that a cheaper, better deal is almost inevitably around the corner. In an era where game libraries are vast and backlogs are endless, what is the real urgency?

Conclusion: Vote with Your Wallet

The gaming industry listens to one language above all others: money. When consumers collectively reject anti-consumer practices, publishers adjust. The backlash against Deus Ex's pre-order scheme proved that. The release of Forza Horizon 5 on PS5 in 2026 presents a clear choice.

You can validate a strategy that repackages old content at new-game prices with artificial early-access barriers. Or, you can wait, be patient, and purchase the game at a fair price that reflects its age and widespread availability. The game isn't going anywhere. Its quality is proven. There is zero risk of "missing out" on anything but an overpriced receipt. By refusing to engage with this premium pre-order model, players can send a message that even in 2026, they expect value and respect, not just cleverly marketed nostalgia traps. The open road of Mexico will still be there waiting, and it will be just as beautiful—and far more satisfying—when you finally drive it at a sensible price.