Forza Horizon 5 Hands-On: A Next-Gen Spectacle For Xbox Series Consoles

Digital Foundry : Forza Horizon 5 has gone gold, the game arrives less than two weeks from now and recently, press had the chance to go hands-on with what is effectively the first hour of the game, featuring the introductory drive, a showcase event, a number of races and open world challenges and the player's arrival at their very first home. Oli Welsh has already shared his first impressions but for Digital Foundry, the preview was a chance to get up close and personal with the technology, to get some idea of how the new Xbox consoles are put through their paces and crucially, to see how the game may scale across systems.

[Rocosaurus]

Cant wait!

[Storm23]

I'm only a Playstation guy but I will say this does look very nice. Man I wish we could have a new DriveClub for PS5. Have fun Xbox people.

[Jericho1337]

Driveclub could’ve been Sony’s answer to Forza Horizon. Shame it never really found a decent following.

[Seraphim]

for what it was Driveclub was a phenomenal game.

[LordoftheCritics]

Looks expansive and sexy.

[sammarshall102]

I think the only problem Driveclub had was that it was too unforgiving for casuals

[Notellin]

@Aphelion82 Forza Horizon isn't developed by Turn 10.

[Darkborn]

I think firesprite might be sonys answer to a different type of racing game, and maybe not Wipeout. Could be something new.

Also the studio head of polyphony digital hinted that he has ideas of different games other than just gran turismo.

[FullmetalRoyale]

Yeah this'll be my first entry in the series. I am excited to try it out.

[CaptainHenry916]

I'll check it out in gamepass. Glad I don't have to pay $70 bucks

[medman]

I also have gamepass, but Forza looks so good I went ahead and paid 50 for the premium add ons bundle that includes early access and the Welcome Pack, Car Pass, VIP Membership and two game expansions. I also went in for the Forza special edition controller. I look forward to diving in on Nov. 5th.

For the record, I am also very excited about Gran Turismo in the spring, along with a lot of other great games scheduled for 2022 release like Elden Ring, Horizon Forbidden West, Starfield, Stalker II, God of War, Little Devil Inside, etc etc. Good times.

[alb1899]

I'm prepared.

[Grievous]

30 FPS? Come on. This gen started so well.

[--Onilink--]

It has both modes, what are you talking about?

[porkChop]

On top of that, both modes are native 4k with only minor visual differences.

[Sonyslave3]

Bruh i guess you didnt read the article, it has both 30 and 60 fps and both is 4k native no checker boarding bs.

[gravedigger]

@porkchop

Quote :
"On top of that, both modes are native 4k with only minor visual differences. "

@Sonyslave3

"Bruh i guess you didnt read the article, it has both 30 and 60 fps and both is 4k native no checker boarding bs."

Looks like both of you didn't read the article

"whether you're running on Series X or its junior counterpart, both of them run at the same resolution: 3840x2160 or 1920x1080 respectively, albeit with potential hints of dynamic resolution scaling in play on the performance mode (truth is, it's quite hard to tell)."

This is not 100% confirmation at all it is native. Since DF hinted that there is a possibility for DRS. Also, developers stated that they are targeting 4K. Targeting is NOT native!

Forza Horizon 5 targets 4K 30 FPS on Xbox Series X, optional 60 FPS mode
https://www.windowscentral....

Also, i'll bet that VGTech, which is waaay more precise in counting pixels will find that game has a DRS.

[SCW1982]

60 fps is dynamic res which is a similar solution to checkerboard, but in this day and age who really cares. Smooth 60 with small incremental tweaks is way better than native 30fps any day.

[DJStotty]

@gravedigger

Ok let's include the full context :-

" The preview code we had only worked on the new machines, so quite how Playground intends to run the game on Xbox One remains to be seen, but perhaps there are some clues when looking at Series code, principally because both quality and performance modes are included. Intriguingly, whether you're running on Series X or its junior counterpart, both of them run at the same resolution: 3840x2160 or 1920x1080 respectively, albeit with potential hints of dynamic resolution scaling in play on the performance mode (truth is, it's quite hard to tell)."

Performance mode, might have but not confirmed, DRS, not quality mode, and that is them "guessing" at how playground is going to run the game on xbox one/X, as stated above (but you missed that bit out) So here are the details :-

Xbox One/X - unknown

Xbox Series S :-

1080p @ 30fps (quality)
1080p @ 60fps (performance) (using DRS - with only hints of it being used)

Xbox Series X :-

4K @ 30fps Native (Quality)
4K @ 60fps Native? (Performance) (using DRS - with only hints of it being used)

"Q: How does Forza Horizon 5 perform on Xbox Series X|S?
A: On Xbox Series X Forza Horizon 5 will feature 4K resolution at 30fps, on Xbox Series S Forza Horizon 5 will play at 1080p resolution at 30fps. Both platforms will feature a performance mode that runs at 60fps."

Source : Horizon 5 faq

https://support.forzamotors...

"It's also interesting in that both 30fps quality and 60fps performance modes both appear to be running at native 4K on Xbox Series X, Forza has always had the ability to scale settings and it opts for that over dynamic resolution scaling."

Source : Dfoundry

https://www.eurogamer.net/a...

[iplay1up2]

60fps option! It will still be one of the best looking games to date. Xbox haters, they love to bash Microsoft, and don't even own an Xbox.

[ColtPSSX]

Crazy how when a PS5 game has 30 fps option and someone calls it out, it’s considered stating fact about how weak the console is but when someone does it to Xbox all of a sudden is MS bashing lol.

But of course Xbox is victim.

[alb1899]

ColtPssX, stop the jealousy and led people enjoy a great info about their favorite game.

[BrainSyphoned]

We bash it because Forza is literally the only thing I bought on Xbox last gen. Also if you don't realize that game pass is on PC and we don't need to "own an Xbox" then you are the one limiting their options because of blind loyalty to a corp that's main function in the gaming space is to rent out other people's work.

[Chevalier]

"Crazy how when a PS5 game has 30 fps option and someone calls it out, it’s considered stating fact about how weak the console is but when someone does it to Xbox all of a sudden is MS bashing lol.

But of course Xbox is victim."

Its even more hilarious that they can't even keep the facts straight. 🤣 They say it's true 4K!

"whether you're running on Series X or its junior counterpart, both of them run at the same resolution: 3840x2160 or 1920x1080 respectively, albeit with potential hints of dynamic resolution scaling in play on the performance mode (truth is, it's quite hard to tell)"

Quoted. NOT 4K. Someone said checkboard?! This is targeting 4K it's not actually 4K, so expect that checkboard or whatever they'll have to cut edges on to try to get to 4K, but, it won't be native because of the 'dynamic scaling'

[Neonridr]

Quality yes. 60fps in Performance. Do you read?

[ecchiless]

and that mode got praised for df chills xDDDD

i remember when the alex guy way shitting on that motorcycle game, that looks amazing.... but this get a pass on the 30 fps mode xD

[babadivad]

Should be fun on a bun.

[phoenixwing]

Will be cool to play on my pc

[Fntastic]

Uncapped frame rate so super smooth 90-100+fps should not be too much of a problem with a high end GPU.

[Firebird360]

Looks and sounds like fh5 has set the bar for whats possible on next gen consoles.
I'm really waiting for the next forza and gt7 face off.

[Atticus_finch]

No lol

[Firebird360]

What tops it graphically?

[Atticus_finch]

U4, GOW, tlou2, Stushima, spider man, demon souls, rachet n clank and that before HFW and GT7 come out.

[Firebird360]

No lol

[ColtPSSX]

Not into racing games, but damn it looks pretty.

Might have to try it on my Series, just for the graphics since it’s on game pass anyways.

[AngainorG7X]

I'm leaving this here.

https://twitter.com/KeemaMr...

[ColtPSSX]

Idk what kind of RPG they are making but imagine a more medieval type of setting with luscious greens like that.

Really exciting.

[porkChop]

Playground are making the new Fable. So it'll be medieval with lots of greenery, snowy areas, etc. We'll see a bit of everything.

They've proven they make incredible and creative racing games. Let's hope they can do the same with RPGs.

[AngainorG7X]

@Colt
@pork

It makes you wonder how a (Next Gen only) Fable could look like with this engine and from these guys

[Chevalier]

Definitely purchasing the open world Fable game they're working on with whatever good system bundle is out at the time that it launches. Hopefully Fable will launch around a new Fallout bundle.

[nickanasty206]

Game looks amazing and love the Forza Horizon Series, but it always just makes me yearn for a new Burnout game. Not sure why.

[Orchard]

I do enjoy Horizon games, they are always great fun - and this game is insanely good looking, easily the best looking game of this generation thus far.

I’m interested to see what Playground Games can do with an RPG.

[KillaJamm]

What a time to be a racing fan! Just preloaded FH5 on the Series X, and then got GT7 early next year on the PS5, absolutely buzzing.

[SCW1982]

Really looking forward to playing this but I really can’t stand this series cool kid gnarly totally tubular festival vibe. Wish they would tone it down. That’s why as fun as these are I still prefer Forza and Gran Turismo.

[TheColbertinator]

The vine is different. More akin to Need for Speed or The Crew. It is not a bad thing because after all it is an arcade racer not a serious sim like Forza Motorsport or GT.

[SCW1982]

I still find it childish and lame. The only thing worse is when Ubisoft tries to be edgy. “Looking at you Watchdogs 2 and 3”

[PrinceAli]

I LOVE everything about this game!! it's gonna be incredible! but something that's weird for me is how much Digital Foundry flip flops when it comes to 30fps on PlayStation games and 30FPS on Xbox games lool it's SO strange! how has 30fps been turned into being acceptable now ESPECIALLYY for a racing game!!! that's sucha INSANE take! but hey 🤷‍♀️😂

[ecchiless]

indeed, those guys from df are clearly more bias that anything xD

[Einhander1971]

Looks like my series S will get a run in again:)

[AuraAbjure]

It still runs well on Xbone? Wow.

[Limitedtimestruggle]

God damn this game looks SOLID!