Platform comparison

Forza Horizon 5: which platform plays it best?

What changes between PC, Xbox: resolution, FPS per mode, what each official store publishes and the FPS we measured on PC.

  • 2platforms compared
  • 23,00 €cheapest key, on Xbox
  • 3video comparisons

Quick verdict

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The best version of Forza Horizon 5 is the PC one, but Xbox Series X in quality mode matches its maximum.

Best graphics experience PC you pick resolution and frame rate, no 2160p at 30 or 60
Best console experience Xbox Series X 2160p in both modes and a perfect frame rate throughout
Cheapest key Xbox 23 €, against 23.87 € on PC and 35.99 € on PS5
Best on the go Steam Deck 720p with FSR: 35 fps on high, 60 with everything low

PC versus Series X

The analysis is blunt: Series X in quality mode matches the highest PC settings, tested on an RTX 3080. PC's edge is not the settings, it is that you pick resolution and frame rate without choosing between 2160p at 30 or at 60, and that ray-traced reflections in Forzavista do not depend on a display mode.

On Xbox Series

On Xbox the split is clean. Series X runs 2160p in both modes, at 30 and at 60; Series S sits at 1440p at 30 and 1080p at 60. Performance mode lowers shadows, reflections, ambient occlusion, texturing and vegetation, and the analysis still picks that mode on both consoles. Every version holds a perfect frame rate, which is not the norm.

Older hardware and handhelds

Below that, Xbox One stays at 1080p and 30 FPS and One X at 2160p and 30. With an Xbox One and a good connection the analysis points you to xCloud, which streams the Series S build at 1080p. On the go, Steam Deck gives 35 FPS on high and 60 with everything on low. The PS5 version, released in 2025, has no video analysis, so its column stays empty. The cheapest key is on Xbox at 23 €, against 23.87 € on PC and 35.99 € on PS5.

One X has no 60 FPS performance mode, which earlier entries did offer.

Updated 7 May 2022

Price on each platform

The best live offer for each version, every price with its format.

See every price for Forza Horizon 5 on all platforms →

Forza Horizon 5 on Xbox One, Xbox Series and PC: graphics comparison

  • Xbox One runs at 1080p and 30 FPS. One X climbs to 2160p and 30 FPS, and has no 60 FPS performance mode, which earlier entries did offer.
  • Series S gives 1440p at 30 FPS and 1080p at 60. Series X holds 2160p in both modes, at 30 and at 60.
  • Every version keeps a perfect frame rate in every mode.
  • Performance mode lowers shadows, reflections, ambient occlusion, texturing and the amount of vegetation.
  • Series X in quality mode matches the highest PC settings, tested on an RTX 3080.
  • Ray-traced reflections only appear in Forzavista, on PC or on Series with quality mode on, and he calls the use anecdotal: it does not replace screen-space reflections.
  • Loading times are four times faster on Series, and Xbox One shows fewer NPCs and shorter draw distance. On Series S and X he would pick performance mode.

Forza Horizon 5 on xCloud, Xbox One and Xbox Series S: graphics comparison

  • xCloud streams the same build as Xbox Series S, a clear step up from Xbox One in many settings.
  • Both of its modes top out at 1080p because of the service's limits, and sharpness reads closer to 900p.
  • Quality mode adds noticeable input lag, so here he recommends performance mode.
  • Loading times are slightly slower than on Series S, but far faster than on Xbox One.
  • With a good connection and an Xbox One, he says the xCloud version is the one to play.

Forza Horizon 5 on Steam Deck versus Xbox One and Xbox Series: graphics comparison

  • The game does not support the Steam Deck's 16:10 aspect ratio, so it runs at native 720p with FSR.
  • Steam Deck holds 35 FPS on high settings, with textures and environment geometry on ultra, dropping below 30 at some points.
  • With everything on low, close to the Xbox One level, it holds 60 FPS, though with some stutter.
  • Loading times beat Xbox One and fall short of Xbox Series, despite the SSD.
  • At the time of the analysis, Forza Horizon 5 was not a Steam Deck verified game.

Full platform comparison

Resolution, modes and FPS come from the video analyses above. The rest is published by each platform's official store and by the game's technical sheet on PC. Where nobody publishes the figure we put a dash, not a guess.

Feature PC Xbox
Graphics modes Free settingsQuality and performance on Series X and S · quality only on One X
Resolution in quality mode —2160p on Series X · 1440p on Series S
Resolution in performance mode —2160p on Series X · 1080p on Series S
FPS in quality mode —30
FPS in performance mode —60 on Series X and Series S
Previous generation —1080p and 30 FPS on One · 2160p and 30 FPS on One X
Frame rate stability —Perfect in every mode
Equivalent settings Tested maxed out (RTX 3080)Series X in quality matches the PC maximum
Ray tracing Forzavista mode onlyForzavista only, in quality mode on Series
What performance mode cuts —Shadows, reflections, ambient occlusion, texturing and vegetation
Loading times —Four times faster on Series than on One
On the go Steam Deck: 720p with FSR, 35 FPS on high and 60 on lowxCloud runs the Series S build, at 1080p
HDR —Yes
4K —Yes
Optimised for the current generation —Yes
Xbox Play Anywhere —Yes
Online co-op —Yes

Xbox is the Series X column unless Series S is stated. Resolution, modes, FPS, VRR and download size come from the videos; HDR, ray tracing and PC features from the technical sheet and the official Xbox catalogue.

Frequently asked questions about Forza Horizon 5

Which platform does Forza Horizon 5 look best on?

PC, but only just: the analysis says Xbox Series X in quality mode matches the highest PC settings. What PC adds is freedom to mix resolution and frame rate, plus ray tracing in Forzavista without depending on a display mode.

What resolution and frame rate does it hit on Xbox Series?

Series X runs 2160p in both modes: 30 FPS in quality and 60 in performance. Series S sits at 1440p at 30 FPS and 1080p at 60. Every version keeps a perfect frame rate in every mode.

Which mode should I use on Xbox Series?

Performance, according to the analysis, on both Series X and Series S. It lowers shadows, reflections, ambient occlusion, texturing and vegetation, but it doubles the frame rate and on Series X it does not even drop below 2160p.

Does it have ray tracing?

Only in Forzavista mode, and only on PC or on Xbox Series with quality mode active. The analysis calls it an anecdotal use that does not replace screen-space reflections.

How does it run on Xbox One and One X?

Xbox One runs at 1080p and 30 FPS, with fewer NPCs and shorter draw distance. One X climbs to 2160p, also at 30 FPS, and has no 60 FPS performance mode. One X vegetation is close to Series S and X in performance mode.

Is it worth playing on xCloud?

With an Xbox One and a good connection, yes: that is the analysis's recommendation. xCloud streams the Series S build, so many settings improve, though both modes cap at 1080p with sharpness closer to 900p, and quality mode adds input lag.

Does it work on Steam Deck?

Yes. It runs at native 720p with FSR, since the game does not support the Deck's 16:10 ratio. On high it holds 35 FPS with occasional dips below 30; with everything on low, close to the Xbox One level, it holds 60 FPS with some stutter.

How long does it take to load?

Four times less on Xbox Series than on Xbox One, according to the analysis. The One and One X versions also add loading screens the Series builds do not have. Steam Deck lands in between: faster than One, slower than Series.

What about the PS5 version?

We do not compare it. It arrived in 2025 and there is no video analysis of that build, so its column stays empty rather than being filled in from the others.

Which one is cheapest?

The cheapest key is on Xbox at 23 €, almost level with PC at 23.87 €. On PS5 the key goes up to 35.99 €. Account offers drop much lower (4.99 € on PC, 5.55 € on Xbox) because they are not a purchase in your name.

Video analysis by El Analista de Bits. The videos play from their own channel. PC data according to PCGamingWiki and our own FPS measurements; Xbox features according to the official Microsoft catalogue.