Forza Horizon 6’s Horizon Rush is Playground Games’ Answer to “One-and-Done” Showcase Events

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When people think of Forza Horizon, the Showcase Events – unique races against things like trains and even a plane from Halo – really stand out and make the game memorable. It’s a shame the series hasn’t revisited or expanded on these events in later installments.

Playground Games has identified an issue with its Showcase events. Level design director Tom Dillow explained to IGN that after reviewing player data from Forza Horizon 5, they found most players only complete each Showcase once.

Players receive the Showcase as a reward, enjoy a fantastic three minutes with it, and then typically don’t have a reason to come back. We try to fix this in our live events by updating existing Showcases – changing the time, weather, car, and music – which encourages players to return and play again. However, once they’ve experienced that updated version, they usually drive off with no further motivation to replay.

In Forza Horizon 6, a new feature called Horizon Rush offers a fresh experience. You unlock these challenges by collecting wristbands as you progress through the game. At launch, there are three Rush locations – a Tokyo dock, an Alpine ski resort, and a spaceport – where you race against the clock. Unlike one-time events, Horizon Rush courses can be replayed and enjoyed with friends in both cooperative and competitive modes.

Horizon Rush adds a welcome element of replayability, even if it doesn’t have the same grand spectacle as the new Showcase Events – though, according to Dillow, it might still have a few surprises, so keep an eye out at the spaceport!

When creating engaging events, our goal is for players to want to experience them repeatedly. We considered what makes something replayable, and for us, it came down to striving for high scores, beating personal best times, and truly mastering the content. We aimed for levels that are easy to pick up initially, but challenging to perfect. Ultimately, and most importantly, we wanted to ensure everything was fun – because if it isn’t enjoyable, players won’t come back for more. That’s what replayability means to our team.

The Event Lab in Forza Horizon 5 influenced the design of these courses, but Playground Games prioritized building the courses themselves first. According to Dillow, these “Rush” courses were created within the game’s levels, focusing on fun gameplay. Unlike previous games where locations were built first and events added later, the team built the Rush courses and then designed the surrounding environments to complement them.

Every Rush course begins with a planned layout. For the docks course, we envisioned a route starting on the rooftop, moving through shipping containers, transitioning to an off-road section, and ending at the warehouses. Rather than building the dockyard first and then trying to fit the course into it, we designed the course itself in isolation and built the surrounding dockyard around it. This approach guaranteed a high-quality experience for Rush players and a final result we’re really pleased with.

It’s currently unclear if Playground Games will continue to offer this event in the future, or even make it a regular part of the game. For now, it’s a fun way to challenge other players, but even more importantly, to improve your own skills and conquer the challenges of Horizon Rush.

Good news for racing fans! Forza Horizon 6 arrives on May 19th for Xbox Series X/S and PC. PlayStation 5 owners will be able to play it later this year. You can find the game’s system requirements – which aren’t too demanding – here.

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2026-03-26 20:11