What comes in each Forza Horizon 5 edition and how to preorder

Forza Horizon 5 has multiple ways to play and numerous editions to choose

One of the most anticipated games of 2021 is undoubtedly Forza Horizon 5, the latest open-world racing game from Playground Games that’s nearly guaranteed to become one of the best Xbox racing games you can play. Like previous Forza Horizon games, buying and playing Forza Horizon 5 comes with multiple options for players to choose from, with three different editions and various add-ons, so choosing which one to buy could be slightly daunting. In this Forza Horizon 5 buying guide, we’ll cover it all.

Here’s everything you need to know about preordering Forza Horizon 5.

What is Forza Horizon 5?

Forza Horizon 5 is the latest entry in the long-running Forza Horizon franchise, which are open-world racing games centered around the fabled Horizon Festival. Playground Games, situated comfortably under the Xbox Game Studios banner, is renowned for delivering vast, detailed, and generally excellent semi-simulation arcade racing games, and Forza Horizon 5 looks to improve upon its predecessor in nearly every way.

Playground seems to have incorporated a ton of community feedback, with Forza Horizon 5 including improvements like a significantly larger and more varied map set in Mexico, a more involved and deep single-player story, superior and more integrated online features, improved customization, and more. The Forza Horizon 5 car list at launch is also the biggest of any game in the franchise, so players will have no shortage of impeccably recreated vehicles from which to choose.

Forza Horizon 5 releases on Nov. 9, 2021, for Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC, and Xbox Cloud Gaming. Forza Horizon 5 is even going to be available through Xbox Game Pass starting on day one.

How can I preorder or buy Forza Horizon 5?

When it comes to buying Forza Horizon 5, players are actually met with a decent amount of choice and questions. Do you desire the convenience of digital or the familiarity of physical? Which edition is best for you, and are there bonuses for preordering or buying certain editions?

One thing to keep in mind: Forza Horizon 5 fully supports Xbox Play Anywhere. If you purchase a digital copy of Forza Horizon 5 (any edition) for Xbox or Windows through the Microsoft Store, you’ll immediately own the game on both of those platforms. FH5 also supports cloud saves, so your progress won’t be lost even if you play on both platforms.

Preorder bonuses

Preordering video games, or purchasing before release day, is commonplace in the video game industry. Forza Horizon 5 is no exception, and lets players put down their money early.

• Physical copies get delivered earlier. If you prefer physical media for your games, preordering gives you better chances of actually obtaining Forza Horizon 5 on release day, rather than waiting for delivery a few days afterward. There are no guarantees, but most retailers will prioritize preordered game deliveries.
• Preinstall or predownload. Preordering Forza Horizon 5 digitally lets you preinstall the game. This means the game will be all ready to go on release date, saving you valuable time. Even players using Xbox Game Pass to play Forza Horizon 5 will be able to preinstall the game.
• Early access with Premium Edition. If you preorder Forza Horizon 5 Premium Edition you’ll be able to play Forza Horizon 5 four days earlier than everyone else. While FH5 releases on Nov. 9, Forza Horizon 5 Premium Edition preorders will unlock on Nov. 5, 2021.
• No preorder cars. Some past Forza Horizon games granted players exclusive and powerful pre-tuned cars for preordering from specific retailers. While these were great collectibles, it also meant lots of players were left out by their region, time constraints, or an understandable unwillingness to preorder the games multiple times. With Forza Horizon 5, Playground Games is getting rid of preorder cars entirely.
• No other exclusive preorder DLC. All the DLC included in Forza Horizon 5 editions should be available for purchase separately, either through bundles (like the Premium Add-Ons Bundle) or by themselves.

Standard Edition

Forza Horizon 5 editions have to start somewhere, which brings us to the Standard Edition. This is the base version of the game, and doesn’t include any other DLC content or expansions. Beyond the base game (which is the one included on Xbox Game Pass), you also get:

• Can be preinstalled. You can preinstall Forza Horizon 5 Standard Edition on Xbox and PC.
• No additional DLC included. As this is just the base game of Forza Horizon 5, there’s no other DLC or expansions included.

Forza Horizon 5 Standard Edition (Preorder)

$60 at Microsoft (Xbox & PC)
$60 at Best Buy (Xbox & PC)
$60 at Newegg (Xbox & PC)
See at Steam (PC)

Forza Horizon 5 Standard Edition gives players access to hundreds of cars and a gorgeous rendition of Mexico, but doesn’t include extra DLC content or expansions. This is the version that’s included in Xbox Game Pass, and is also available physically.

Deluxe Edition

Forza Horizon 5 Deluxe Edition is the middle child in the FH5 family, and as such includes the base game and exactly one other piece of DLC to justify the added cost. This is the edition for the car collectors.

• Can be preinstalled. You can preinstall Forza Horizon 5 Deluxe Edition on Xbox and PC.
• Includes Forza Horizon 5 Car Pass. Forza Horizon 5 Deluxe Edition includes the Forza Horizon 5 Car Pass, a DLC that adds an additional 42 cars to the game.
  • Eight additional cars will be available in Forza Horizon 5 at launch with the Formula Drift Cars pack
  • One additional car will be added to Forza Horizon 5 every week, for a total of 34 additional cars

Forza Horizon 5 Deluxe Edition (Preorder)

$80 at Microsoft (Xbox & PC)
$80 at Best Buy (Xbox & PC)
$80 at Newegg (Xbox & PC)
See at Steam (PC)

Forza Horizon 5 Deluxe Edition includes the base game and an additional 42 cars with the Forza Horizon 5 Car Pass. 8 Formula Drift Cars will be available at launch, with an additional car added every week afterward for 34 weeks.

Premium Edition

The quintessential edition for Forza Horizon fans and lovers, Forza Horizon 5 Premium Edition ramps up the cost again but includes a compelling number of DLC additions and perks over previous editions.

• Can be preinstalled. You can preinstall Forza Horizon 5 Premium Edition on Xbox and PC.
• Includes early access. Preordering Forza Horizon 5 Premium Edition nets you four days of early access, letting you play Forza Horizon 5 on Nov. 5, 2021 instead of Nov. 9.
  • Early access is also included in the Forza Horizon 5 Premium Add-Ons Bundle
• Includes Forza Horizon 5 Car Pass. Forza Horizon 5 Premium Edition includes the Forza Horizon 5 Car Pass, a DLC that adds an additional 42 cars to the game.
  • Eight additional cars will be available in Forza Horizon 5 at launch with the Formula Drift Cars pack
  • One additional car will be added to Forza Horizon 5 every week, for a total of 34 additional cars
  • The Forza Horizon 5 Car Pass is only available through Forza Horizon 5 Deluxe Edition, Premium Edition, and the Premium Add-Ons Bundle
• Includes Forza Horizon 5 Welcome Pack. Forza Horizon 5 Premium Edition includes the Forza Horizon 5 Welcome Pack, a DLC that adds several in-game perks and bonuses when first playing the game.
  • Five specially pre-tuned cars will be gifted at launch
  • One Player House will be gifted at launch
  • An included one-time voucher lets you purchase any car from the Autoshow
  • Three included one-time vouchers lets you purchase any Common or Rare clothing items
  • The Forza Horizon 5 Welcome Pack is only available through Forza Horizon 5 Premium Edition and the Premium Add-Ons Bundle
• Includes Forza Horizon 5 VIP Membership. Forza Horizon 5 Premium Edition includes this membership, a DLC that adds several in-game perks and bonuses throughout playing the game.
  • Three exclusive Forza Edition cars will be gifted at launch
  • One Player House will be gifted at launch
  • A Crown Flair, Vanity Items, Emote, and Car Horn will be gifted at launch
  • Races provide two times the Credit rewards
  • Players gain extra Super Wheelspins every week
  • Additional bonuses and perks
  • The Forza Horizon 5 VIP Membership is only available through Forza Horizon 5 Premium Edition and the Premium Add-Ons Bundle
• Includes Forza Horizon 5 Expansion One. Forza Horizon 5 Premium Edition includes Forza Horizon 5 Expansion One, which is one of two unannounced DLC expansions coming to Forza Horizon 5 in the future.
  • Forza Horizon 5 Expansion One has not been revealed yet, but will be included in Forza Horizon 5 Premium Edition when it does eventually launch
  • Forza Horizon 5 Expansion One is only available through Forza Horizon 5 Premium Edition and the Premium Add-Ons Bundle
• Includes Forza Horizon 5 Expansion Two. Forza Horizon 5 Premium Edition includes Forza Horizon 5 Expansion Two, which is one of two unannounced DLC expansions coming to Forza Horizon 5 in the future.
  • Forza Horizon 5 Expansion Two has not been revealed yet, but will be included in Forza Horizon 5 Premium Edition when it does eventually launch
  • Forza Horizon 5 Expansion Two is only available through Forza Horizon 5 Premium Edition and the Premium Add-Ons Bundle

Forza Horizon 5 Premium Edition (Preorder)

$100 at Microsoft (Xbox & PC)
$100 at Best Buy (Xbox & PC)
$100 at Newegg (Xbox & PC)
See at Steam (PC)

Forza Horizon 5 Premium Edition includes the base game, the Forza Horizon 5 Car Pass, Welcome Pack, VIP Membership, Expansion One, and Expansion Two DLCs, and four days of early access. The ultimate edition for Forza Horizon fans.

Forza Horizon 5 Premium Add-Ons Bundle

The best way to get Forza Horizon 5 and all of its DLC is undoubtedly through Forza Horizon 5 Premium Edition, but players going through Xbox Game Pass, buying a physical copy of FH5, or planning to upgrade after release should consider the Forza Horizon 5 Premium Add-Ons Bundle. You get everything offered in the Premium Edition minus the base game.

Forza Horizon 5 Premium Add-Ons Bundle (Preorder)

$50 at Microsoft (Xbox & PC)
See at Steam (PC)

The Forza Horizon 5 Premium Add-Ons Bundle includes all of the benefits and content included in Forza Horizon 5 Premium Edition, and is perfect for players that bought a physical copy of the game or are playing through Xbox Game Pass.

Physical edition

Digital games have effectively taken over the video game industry, but there remains a large number of players that still prefer physical copies of all their games. Forza Horizon 5 is absolutely available as a physical disk, but players will be more limited in their options.

Here’s what you need to know about Forza Horizon 5’s physical edition.

• Forza Horizon 5 Standard Edition only. If you want to buy Forza Horizon 5 as a physical disk, you’ll be limited to Forza Horizon 5 Standard Edition, which only offers the base game.
• Can be preordered. You can preorder Forza Horizon 5’s physical edition from multiple retailers, increasing your chances of getting the game delivered on or before launch day.
• Can be upgraded. If you want the additional DLC and content included in Forza Horizon 5 Premium Edition, you are able to purchase the Forza Horizon 5 Premium Add-Ons Bundle and pair it with your physical copy of Forza Horizon 5.
• Xbox Series X and Xbox One compatible. Physical editions of Forza Horizon 5 still support Smart Delivery, and are compatible with Xbox Series X and Xbox One consoles. Xbox Series S and Xbox One S All-Digital are not supported since they don’t have disk drives.
• No PC support. At the moment, there is no option to purchase a physical copy of Forza Horizon 5 for PC.

Forza Horizon 5 (Physical preorder)

$60 at Amazon (Xbox)
$60 at Best Buy (Xbox)
$60 at GameStop (Xbox)
$60 at Target (Xbox)

Forza Horizon 5 does have a physical edition, but it’s only the Standard Edition of the game. If you want a physical copy of Forza Horizon 5, consider purchasing the Forza Horizon 5 Premium Add-Ons Bundle to go with it.

Is there a demo for Forza Horizon 5?

Other Forza Horizon games offered free demos that let players test the game before purchasing, and could even provide additional in-game rewards for completing the demo. Before preordering Forza Horizon 5, you may be wondering if there’s a demo for FH5 available right now. Unfortunately, there isn’t one available yet.

We’re still quite a ways away from Forza Horizon 5’s launch, and previous Forza Horizon games didn’t release their demo until four to five weeks before official release. If Forza Horizon 5 maintains this tradition, we should see a demo for the game arrive sometime in October.

Of course, Playground Games hasn’t announced or confirmed that a Forza Horizon 5 demo is even coming, so it may not happen this time around (for whatever reason). And, if it does happen, there may not be any rewards for playing the demo (other than getting a taste of FH5 a little earlier than release).

We’ll continuously update this section as we learn more about a potential Forza Horizon 5 demo.

The Festival returns

Forza Horizon 5 (Preorder)

$60 at Microsoft (Standard)
$60 at Amazon (Physical)
See at Steam (PC)

An epic adventure

Forza Horizon 5 is the latest project from Playground Games and continues the epic Forza Horizon adventure with a new roster of amazing cars and a brand-new location to explore: Mexico. Forza Horizon 5 launches on Xbox and PC later this year, and it’s already available to preorder.

Vrooms included

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

From $1/month at Microsoft
$45 at Amazon (3-month subscription)
$15 at Amazon (1-month subscription)

All your gaming needs, in one subscription.

Is the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate the best value in all of gaming? It’s possible. Ultimate bundles your Xbox Live Gold subscription, an Xbox Game Pass subscription for both Xbox consoles and Windows PCs, and Xbox Cloud Gaming for on-the-go. Forza Horizon 5 will be available through Xbox Game Pass day one, including on consoles, PC, and the cloud.