Wow, what a time to be a gamer! As I'm writing this in 2026, the gaming landscape continues to blur the lines between console ecosystems, and the clearest proof of that is the absolute explosion in popularity of Forza Horizon 5 on the PlayStation Store. It's not even officially out on PS5 yet, but based on the pre-order charts I've been tracking, it's already shaping up to be one of the biggest releases of the year on Sony's platform. Remember when this was the crown jewel of Xbox exclusives? Seeing its vibrant Mexican vistas and blistering arcade racing action open up to a whole new audience is genuinely exciting.
The journey to this point started back in early 2025 when Playground Games, the brilliant developers behind the series, finally announced the PlayStation 5 port. The anticipation built steadily until we got that concrete release date: April 29th. That announcement wasn't just a date; it was the starting gun for pre-orders. And let me tell you, the response was immediate and absolutely staggering. Within a single day, Forza Horizon 5 wasn't just on the charts—it was dominating them globally.
Let's break down this dominance, region by region. It's a truly global phenomenon:
-
The Americas on Fire: North of the border in Canada, the game's editions seized the top two spots. In the United States, two of its three available versions secured places in the prestigious top five. But the most poetic success might be in Mexico itself—the breathtaking country that serves as the game's stunning open-world playground. There, the Standard and Premium Editions proudly hold the #1 and #2 pre-order positions. The love has spread throughout Latin America, with the game leading the charts in Argentina, Brazil, and Chile, and performing strongly in Peru.
-
European Racing Fever: Across the Atlantic, the excitement is just as palpable. In the United Kingdom, the Premium Edition is the most pre-ordered game, with the Standard Edition in a solid third place. This enthusiasm is mirrored across virtually the entire continent. We're talking top-of-the-charts performance in powerhouse markets like:
-
Germany 🇩🇪
-
France 🇫🇷
-
Italy 🇮🇹
-
Spain 🇪🇸
And the list goes on: Austria, Belgium, Portugal, the Netherlands, Greece, and all across Scandinavia and Eastern Europe. In many of these countries, it's not uncommon to see two or even all three editions of Forza Horizon 5 occupying the top five slots. The Old Continent is clearly ready to hit the Horizon Festival.
-
-
Pacific Powerhouse: The trend doesn't stop there. Down in Australia and New Zealand, the game is also leading the PS Store pre-order charts. Perhaps most surprisingly, even in Japan—a market historically less focused on Xbox titles—the Premium Edition has cracked the top five, with the Standard Edition sitting comfortably in ninth. That's a huge testament to the universal appeal of the Horizon formula.
So, what does all this pre-release data tell us? To me, it screams that Forza Horizon 5 is poised to be a monumental success on PS5. The sheer volume of pre-orders suggests it could easily surpass the performance of other major Xbox titles that have made the jump, like Sea of Thieves, which up until now held the title of Microsoft's most successful non-Call of Duty port to PlayStation.
This isn't just about one game, though. It feels like a watershed moment. The success of Forza Horizon 5 is paving the way and proving there's a hungry audience on PlayStation for these high-quality experiences. It validates the strategy of bringing more titles across platforms. We already know that other anticipated games, like the adventure-packed Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, are expected to follow suit and land on the PS5 in the near future.
As a player, I find this all incredibly positive. More players getting to experience fantastic games like this means bigger, more supported communities and a brighter future for the titles we love. Come April 29th, the roads of Mexico are going to be more crowded than ever—and I, for one, can't wait to join the festival on my PS5. The race for cross-platform supremacy is on, and right now, Forza Horizon 5 is in pole position. 🏁