Oops! Microsoft possibly just leaked Xbox’s Forza Horizon 6 release date with an in-game pop-up — here’s when the big open-world racer might come out

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Forza is one of Microsoft’s most popular Xbox franchises. Published by Xbox Game Studios, the series includes both realistic racing simulations like Forza Motorsport and the more casual, open-world experience of Forza Horizon.

Playground Games’ Forza Horizon 6, the next installment in the popular racing series, will be showcased in detail at the Xbox Developer Direct event on January 22nd. Microsoft is expected to announce the game’s official release date during the presentation, though a recent leak may have already revealed it.

The information comes from a Forza Horizon 5 player who shared a screenshot on X (formerly Twitter) of what appears to be an in-game ad for the next installment. The ad details a ‘Premium Edition’ and states that pre-ordering will grant access to Forza Horizon 6 on May 15th, suggesting the full game will launch on May 19, 2026.

The Premium Edition includes a VIP membership for Forza Horizon 6, which, like in Forza Horizon 5, unlocks exclusive cars, bonus credits, special events, and other perks. You’ll also receive a Welcome Pack, the game’s Car Pass, a Time Attack Car Pack, an Italian Passion Car Pack that will be available after launch, and two future downloadable expansions.

Players who pre-order Forza Horizon 6 will receive a specially customized Ferrari J50 when the game launches. The game will feature a vast open world – the largest in the Forza Horizon series – and over 550 cars to explore the beautiful scenery of Japan.

The pop-up appears legitimate and convincing, suggesting it might be genuine. However, it could still be fake, so treat this information with caution, just like any unconfirmed report.

A player shared a screenshot of a pop-up message that briefly appeared after leaving the game’s garage, but didn’t reappear on subsequent attempts. The Windows Central team hasn’t been able to reproduce the message either. It seems likely this pop-up was meant to be released after the reveal of Forza Horizon 6 at a recent event, but a mistake caused it to show up early for this one player.

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2026-01-14 19:39