Ensure you are using Proton Experimental . If that fails, try Proton-GE (a custom version of Proton available via ProtonUp-Qt, a tool available on Flathub). GE versions often include specific media codecs that standard Proton omits.

Ubuntu handles Xbox controllers natively very well. If you are using a PS5 DualSense, you may need to set the controller layout in Steam Big Picture Mode to "Gamepad" for the triggers to register correctly.

The heart of gaming on Ubuntu is . Proton is a compatibility layer that allows Windows games to run on Linux. Forza Horizon 5 runs remarkably well, but you can't just hit "Play" immediately. You need to tell Steam which version of Proton to use.

: If you encounter crashes, switch to the "bleeding-edge" beta branch of Proton Experimental by finding "Proton Experimental" in your Library, right-clicking it, and selecting Properties > Betas .

Before you hit the gas, you need to ensure your system is ready. Because Forza Horizon 5 is a graphical powerhouse, the hardware requirements on Linux are slightly steeper than on Windows due to the overhead of translation layers.