If you are looking for the most current version of the game, it is widely available on platforms like Steam and the Microsoft Store. It is also included in the subscription, which provides the most stable experience with full online features.
The EMPRESS version was designed for offline play; most community members looking for online functionality use separate "online-fix" repairs that are not typically compatible with the EMPRESS-specific files. Official Game Updates (2024–2026) forza horizon 5 empress update
: Starting in April 2026, the Xbox social Clubs feature is being disabled for both Forza Horizon 4 and 5 as part of a broader platform update. If you are looking for the most current