Forza Horizon 5 on PS5 Pro – Impressive Gameplay in Performance Mode5 min read
The long-awaited launch of Forza Horizon 5 on PS5 Pro is finally here, and the results are stunning. This must be one of the most polished ports in recent memory. Originally built for Xbox and PC, this racing masterpiece has been seamlessly adapted for Sony’s high-end console. And if you’re playing in performance mode on PS5 Pro, you’re in for a serious treat.
Playground’s Vision, Panic Button’s Precision
Playground Games built a visually rich open world across Mexico. Panic Button has now carried that experience over to the PS5 Pro without skipping a beat. From dense rainforests to expansive deserts, the scenery looks incredible. The transition is so clean that visual comparisons between PS5 Pro and Series X show almost no difference. That alone is a major technical win.
Performance mode on PS5 Pro offers a locked 60fps while retaining much of the visual quality from the base PS5’s quality mode. You get the best of both: silky-smooth gameplay and a rich visual world. It’s not a small upgrade. The improved draw distance and denser foliage make the open-world landscapes feel more alive and textured.
Performance Mode Steals the Show
The big news is how well performance mode runs on PS5 Pro. It delivers a consistent 60 frames per second with almost no noticeable drops. That’s a huge plus for racing games where timing and responsiveness are everything. What makes it more impressive is how little you sacrifice visually. In fact, performance mode on PS5 Pro mirrors the foliage density of quality mode on base PS5.
Denser grass, richer vegetation, and better pop-in management mean the world feels fuller even at high speeds. This level of fidelity at 60fps is rarely seen without compromise. PS5 Pro does it without leaning on dynamic resolution too heavily. You do not suffer issues like jumps aren’t showing and etc. Even during intense races, it often holds a full 2160p while the base PS5 may drop to 1872p.
Visual Quality Boosts
Aside from the steady frame rate, PS5 Pro introduces subtle but important upgrades. The greenery is not just more vibrant but also visible farther into the distance. This greatly reduces the jarring effect of asset pop-in when moving fast through environments. For a game that celebrates speed and exploration, this matters a lot.
Another welcome feature is the inclusion of ray-traced vehicle self-reflections during gameplay, exclusive to the Pro’s quality mode. The effect isn’t game-changing, but it does add polish. Reflections on mirrors and shiny surfaces are now more accurate, contributing to a more complete visual experience.
Not Without Minor Issues
While the core gameplay is stable, there are a few quirks. Save files on PS5 Pro are oddly large, over 2GB even for a fresh start. There’s also a known crash bug when activating photo mode during races in quality mode. However, this doesn’t affect performance mode, which most players will prefer anyway.
There’s a small difference in car physics between modes. The car tends to roll a bit further in quality mode, likely due to the frame rate discrepancy. This isn’t unique to PlayStation and has been observed on Xbox as well.
Performance Mode vs Quality Mode on Pro
The real comparison lies between the two modes on PS5 Pro. Performance mode now delivers most of what quality mode offered visually, but at double the frame rate. Unless you’re obsessed with minor details like cone step mapping or exclusive ray-traced reflections, performance mode is the smarter pick.
This is particularly true during gameplay, where motion and control feedback outweigh tiny visual gains. Forza Horizon 5 is all about speed and scale. The added clarity of movement in performance mode captures that better.
Future-Proof Racer
Forza Horizon 5 on PS5 Pro doesn’t just match its Xbox counterpart, it improves on it in key ways. The foliage upgrades, stable frame rates, and balanced visual profile make this version arguably the best console experience for the game. It’s a technical achievement and a visual showcase that feels right at home on Sony’s top-tier hardware.
Even four years after its original release, this game still sets a benchmark for open-world racers. The Pro’s muscle makes it feel brand new. You can explore, drift, and race across Mexico with crisp visuals and responsive controls, all without compromise.
Final Thoughts
Forza Horizon 5 on PS5 Pro is more than just a port. It’s the definitive way to play the game on console. Performance mode brings high-end fidelity and smooth gameplay together in a way that makes it hard to go back to anything else. If you’re on PS5 Pro, this is a must-play experience.
Also, if you want the rarest cars, the wildest upgrades, you’ll need serious FH5 Credits. That’s why many racers now buy Forza Horizon 5 Credits PS5 and skip grinding for hours through festival playlists. With these credits, you can immediately load up your garage with top-tier vehicles and upgrades. The smooth gameplay on PS5 Pro deserves a garage just as powerful. Starting strong with Credits means you can race and explore with the best rides without missing a beat.
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