Yes—Forza Horizon 5 Standard Edition is currently included with Xbox Game Pass Premium, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, and PC Game Pass in the United States. As checked on August 1, 2026, it is not included in the Essential catalog. The live Xbox Store and our production catalog agree on those plan assignments. You can verify the tracked status on the Forza Horizon 5 Standard Edition game page.
“Included” does not mean you permanently own the game. Your access depends on an active qualifying subscription and on Forza Horizon 5 remaining in that plan’s catalog. Game Pass also supplies the Standard Edition, not the similarly named Forza Horizon 5 Premium Edition with its expansions and premium add-ons.
Which Game Pass plans include Forza Horizon 5?
The correct answer depends on both your plan and your device. The table below reflects the US catalog checked on August 1, 2026; another region can have different availability.
| Plan | Is FH5 included? | What that means |
|---|---|---|
| Game Pass Essential | No | You must buy the game separately or use a plan that includes it. |
| Game Pass Premium | Yes | The Standard Edition is available in the console catalog. |
| Game Pass Ultimate | Yes | The Standard Edition is included, with console, PC, and supported cloud options under the plan. |
| PC Game Pass | Yes | The Standard Edition is included for Windows PC through the Xbox app. |
This is a title-specific answer. Essential has a curated library and online console multiplayer benefits, but those benefits do not turn every paid Xbox game into an included game. Premium and Ultimate currently list Forza Horizon 5 itself; PC Game Pass covers the Windows version. For a wider feature comparison, use our Game Pass plans guide.
Do Essential members have to buy Forza Horizon 5?
Yes, if Essential is your only subscription and you do not already own the game. Your practical choices are to buy a compatible Xbox copy or switch to Premium or Ultimate while FH5 remains included. On Windows PC, use PC Game Pass or Ultimate rather than assuming a console Essential subscription supplies the PC game.
Catalog access and online multiplayer are separate. Essential can provide online console multiplayer for a paid game you own, but it does not currently provide the Forza Horizon 5 game license.
If you mainly want solo races and exploration, buying the game means you are not depending on catalog access. If you want to sample FH5 alongside many other games, an including subscription may be the lower-commitment route. Compare the full benefits—not only this one title—before changing plans.
Can you play FH5 on Xbox One, Series S, Series X, PC, and cloud?
Yes. Forza Horizon 5 has native versions for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows PC, and Xbox also documents cloud streaming through Game Pass Ultimate. Native play means downloading the game to compatible hardware; cloud play runs the Xbox version remotely and streams it to a supported screen.
| Device | Native install? | Subscription route |
|---|---|---|
| Xbox One | Yes | Premium or Ultimate currently includes the Standard Edition. |
| Xbox Series S | Yes, digital only | Premium or Ultimate; a separate purchase must be digital. |
| Xbox Series X | Yes | Premium or Ultimate, or a compatible purchased copy. |
| Windows PC | Yes | PC Game Pass or Ultimate through the Xbox app. |
| Supported cloud device | No local game install | Ultimate is the official FH5 cloud route documented by Xbox. |
That range is also reflected in our current FH5 catalog record, which is tagged for console, PC, and cloud. Device support does not erase plan or region limits, so check the live catalog while signed in if a download or Play button is missing.
Xbox One vs Xbox Series S and Series X
Forza Horizon 5 is genuinely available on Xbox One; you do not need a Series console just to run it. Xbox’s Smart Delivery support means an eligible digital entitlement provides the appropriate supported Xbox One or optimized Series X|S version. Series hardware offers the newer console experience, but the subscription’s Standard Edition is the same content tier.
Series S requires extra care when shopping because it has no disc drive. A low-priced physical Xbox copy cannot be inserted into that console, so use Game Pass or buy a digital copy. Series X models with a disc drive can use compatible physical media, while digital purchases remain the simplest route across Xbox consoles tied to the same account.
Windows PC and Xbox Cloud Gaming
On Windows, install the included version from the Xbox app with PC Game Pass or Ultimate. A Game Pass entitlement does not grant a Steam copy; Steam is a separate purchase and save environment. If you alternate between an Xbox console and the Microsoft Store/Xbox-app PC version, the store lists Xbox Play Anywhere and Xbox cloud saves for this product.
For play without a local installation, Xbox’s FH5 page specifically points to Game Pass Ultimate cloud streaming. Cloud quality depends on your network, and availability is limited to supported regions and devices. Check the cloud library while signed in rather than assuming that every screen, controller, or country is supported. Our plan comparison can help if cloud access is the deciding feature.
Does Game Pass include the Standard or Premium Edition?
Game Pass includes Forza Horizon 5 Standard Edition. That is the complete base game, not a demo, but it does not automatically include the major expansions or the bundles attached to the game’s Premium Edition.
Game Pass Premium is a subscription plan. Forza Horizon 5 Premium Edition is a game bundle. Having the first does not mean you own the second.
| Product | Base game | Main extras | How it relates to Game Pass |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Edition | Yes | None of the Premium bundle extras | This is the edition included with qualifying plans. |
| Deluxe Edition | Yes | Car Pass | Not the included Game Pass edition. |
| Premium Edition | Yes | Hot Wheels, Rally Adventure, Car Pass, Welcome Pack, and VIP Membership | A separate full-game purchase. |
| Premium Add-Ons Bundle | No | The Premium Edition extras | Upgrades an owned or Game Pass base-game license while that license remains usable. |
The upgrade bundle can make sense for an active subscriber who wants both expansion maps and the main premium benefits. It does not convert the subscription copy into permanent ownership. The production catalog correctly tracks the Standard Edition record, which is the version you should expect when pressing Install through Game Pass.
What DLC must you buy separately?
With only the Game Pass Standard Edition license, these headline Premium components are not included:
- Forza Horizon 5: Hot Wheels, an expansion with its own map and events;
- Forza Horizon 5 Rally Adventure, the second map expansion;
- Car Pass, which supplies its defined set of additional cars;
- VIP Membership and the Welcome Pack.
The Premium Add-Ons Bundle collects those items, but “Premium” still does not mean every FH5 add-on ever released. The official DLC matrix lists later car packs and the Treasure Map separately. Check a bundle’s current contents before paying, especially if one specific car is your reason for upgrading.
Most importantly, add-ons need a usable base game. If your Premium, Ultimate, or PC Game Pass access ends, purchased DLC alone will not launch FH5; you would need to renew a qualifying plan or buy the base game. That is the key ownership tradeoff to weigh alongside the broader membership benefits.
Should you subscribe or buy Forza Horizon 5?
Subscribe when you value the surrounding library as much as FH5. Buy when you expect to return for years, want independence from catalog changes, or plan to spend heavily on expansions and car packs. There is no universal break-even price because subscription rates, store sales, taxes, and regional pricing change.
- Choose Premium if you play on console, want FH5 plus the broader Premium catalog, and do not need Ultimate-only benefits.
- Choose Ultimate if you want the game across the Xbox ecosystem and supported cloud play, or already value Ultimate’s other benefits.
- Choose PC Game Pass if Windows PC is your only Game Pass platform.
- Buy Standard Edition if FH5 is the main game you care about and long-term access matters more than a rotating library.
- Buy Premium Edition if you want to own the base game and the two expansions plus the defined Premium extras in one package.
Do not upgrade solely because the word “Premium” appears in both product names. First decide whether you need a game license, a membership, or add-ons. Then compare the current checkout total. If the rest of the catalog matters, browse our best Game Pass games before assigning the entire subscription cost to FH5.
No leaving date is currently recorded for FH5 in our US catalog, but that is not a guarantee that it will stay forever. If Xbox announces a removal later, buying the base game would be the route to uninterrupted access after the catalog license ends.
Forza Horizon 5 on Game Pass FAQ
These short answers cover the final licensing and compatibility details that commonly cause an unexpected purchase prompt.
Is Forza Horizon 5 free with Xbox Game Pass?
It is included at no additional base-game purchase cost with Premium, Ultimate, and PC Game Pass while the subscription and catalog entry remain active. It is not free-to-own. Essential does not currently include it, and canceling an including plan removes the subscription license. See the current plan differences before joining.
Is Forza Horizon 5 on Xbox One?
Yes. Xbox lists a native Xbox One version, and official February 2026 release notes still identified a specific Xbox One build. It is not a cloud-only workaround. Series X|S receives the optimized console version, so visual quality and loading performance should not be assumed identical across generations. The same current plan eligibility appears on our game record.
Does Game Pass include the FH5 expansions?
No. The included Standard Edition does not bundle Hot Wheels or Rally Adventure. You can obtain both through the Premium Edition, Premium Add-Ons Bundle, or Expansions Bundle, subject to the current store listing. Remember that an add-on bundle does not replace the base-game license shown on the FH5 catalog page.
Will your save remain if you buy the game later?
Normally, yes when you stay inside the Xbox/Microsoft Store ecosystem, use the same Microsoft account, and buy a compatible Xbox version. The Store lists Xbox cloud saves and Xbox Play Anywhere, so replacing a Game Pass license with a purchased Microsoft Store license does not inherently require a fresh profile.
That answer does not extend to every storefront. Official Forza support says Steam and PlayStation save profiles are separate from Xbox progress. Buying on Steam or PS5 is not a save-transfer method, even though FH5 supports cross-play. Let your Xbox cloud save finish syncing before changing devices or removing a local installation.
Bottom line: use Premium for the current console catalog, Ultimate when you also need the documented cloud route and broader Xbox ecosystem benefits, or PC Game Pass for Windows-only play. Essential members need to purchase FH5 or change to an including plan. Buy the base game if permanent access matters, and treat Premium Edition DLC as a separate decision.
This status was checked on August 1, 2026. Game Pass libraries can change by region, plan, and platform, so use the live Xbox Game Pass catalog for the latest listing before subscribing or buying add-ons.
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