Forza Horizon 6 announced for PS5, Xbox Series, and PC

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Xbox Game Studios and Playground Games have revealed the next installment in the racing series, Forza Horizon 6. The open-world game will initially release on Xbox Series and PC (through Steam and the Microsoft Store) in 2026, with a PlayStation 5 version coming later. It will also be included with Xbox Game Pass.

Here are the first details:

The latest *Forza Horizon* game, *Forza Horizon 6*, was revealed at the Xbox Tokyo Game Show 2025, promising a return to the popular open-world racing series in 2026. This time, players will race through the stunning scenery of Japan. The announcement trailer featured nods to past *Forza Horizon* titles and showed off the beautiful new setting, which includes iconic landmarks like Mount Fuji, peaceful waters, bustling cities, and falling cherry blossoms.

Xbox Wire recently shared a full interview with the team at Playground Games about the game’s setting in Japan. You can read the complete interview here.

Why Was Japan the Right Fit for the Next Forza Horizon Game?

Playground Games had the freedom to choose any location for their game, which could have been difficult. However, Japan already offered a lot of the features they needed.

Okay, so Japan has been the number one request from Horizon players for ages, and we’re finally delivering in Forza Horizon 6! It’s just such a cool country – the cars, the music, the whole vibe – it felt like the perfect place for a new Horizon game. We really want to nail the authenticity and make sure it feels like a real place, while still giving you that wide-open Horizon gameplay we all love. We think now is the time to really do Japan justice for players.

Now is a good time for this project because the technology is finally advanced enough to accurately portray Japan, and the development team has a lot of experience from working on other games.

According to Arceta, what makes the *Horizon* series so good is that each new game builds on what players learned in the previous one, making the next installment even more impressive. They also listen to player feedback and find practical ways to improve the games-like using the elevated road technology they created for the *Forza Horizon 5* Hot Wheels expansion when designing the roads in *Forza Horizon 6*.

Yamashita explains that Japan’s unique blend of old and new makes it an ideal setting for a *Horizon* game. He loves how you can find a traditional shrine next to a modern arcade, all on the same street. This combination of history and technology offers a lot of potential for exploration and felt like a perfect fit for the game’s themes and style.

Xbox’s strong presence at Tokyo Game Show made it the perfect time to reveal the game. According to Arceta, fans have long requested this setting, and the team wanted to show their respect for Japan and its culture. They felt there was no better place to make the announcement than at Japan’s biggest gaming event.

What Japanese Locations Will Be Included?

The *Horizon* series is known for creating massive, connected game worlds that feel like entire countries. These aren’t exact copies of real places, but creatively inspired environments that prioritize fun gameplay while still capturing the essence of their real-world inspirations. Japan offers a wealth of diverse and recognizable locations, making it a perfect setting for the next game. The recent teaser showed Mount Fuji, but players are now wondering what other Japanese landscapes the developers will include.

We’re keeping specific details under wraps for now, but we’re thrilled to showcase the stunning variety of Japan’s landscapes to our fans,” says Arceta. “Players can expect everything from the vibrant, detailed cityscapes of Tokyo – our most ambitious environment yet – to the peaceful beauty of the Japanese countryside and mountains. We’re confident the open world we’ve created will be incredible.

We’re not aiming to perfectly replicate Japan and its settings, but we’ve always wanted to capture the heart and soul of its culture and present it through the unique lens of the *Horizon* series.

Getting details right was crucial, so Arceta, Yamashita, and the team went to Japan to observe things firsthand, beyond what they could find in photos or other resources.

Yamashita was impressed with the development team’s open-minded and observant approach during their trip to Japan. Many of the team members were visiting for the first time, and after just a few days, one person noticed something insightful: despite the bustling energy of Tokyo, there was an underlying sense of calm. This observation – a feeling of ‘organized chaos’ – showed Yamashita that the team wasn’t just seeing Japan, they were truly experiencing it. This genuine understanding, Yamashita believes, couldn’t be manufactured and heavily influenced their discussions about Japanese culture, including movement, manners, and sound.

How Will This Game Feel Authentic to Real-Life Japan?

Playground Games went to great lengths to accurately portray the game’s setting, not only researching it extensively themselves but also bringing in Japanese culture expert and car enthusiast, Yamashita, as a consultant early on. This ensured the game captured the true essence of Japan, going beyond just visual appearances. Yamashita’s unique perspective has been invaluable throughout development, resulting in a world where even the smallest details of Japanese life feel authentic and carefully considered, adding to the beautiful scenery.

Yamashita explains that while Japan is popular, it’s often misunderstood when viewed from a distance. The development team aimed to create a realistic and detailed world, not just a superficial one. Bringing in a cultural advisor from the start allowed them to make countless small, respectful choices – from the sounds of city streets to the meaning of colors on signs. These details build authenticity, prevent harmful stereotypes, and ultimately create a more engaging experience for players.

When creating the game, we focused on genuine detail as an ongoing process, not just something to check off a list. I’ve been involved in every creative decision – from the story and art to the sound design – constantly asking questions to make it feel real, like, ‘What’s the atmosphere of this street at twilight in late summer?’ or ‘What sound best captures the feeling of this moment – city noise or a train announcement?’

Yamashita and the team want the game to be more than just a virtual tour of Japan. They hope it resonates deeply with people who already know and love the country.

We want people familiar with Japan to feel like we’ve captured the true essence of the country – that it feels authentic and natural. Respecting the culture and its fans is incredibly important to us. For players who’ve never experienced Japan, we want this to feel like a brand new adventure, and we hope it even encourages them to visit in real life.

How Will the Game Reflect Japanese Car Culture?

Japan was chosen as the game’s setting not only for its beauty, but also to honor the country’s rich automotive history, which will be woven into the gameplay experience.

We’re not ready to share specifics just yet, but like *Forza Horizon 5*, our game will feature a wide variety of popular cars. Japan has a really distinct car culture, and we’re thrilled to be able to showcase that in the game,” says Arceta.

Yamashita notes that Japanese car culture is incredibly rich and varied. From small ‘kei’ cars and vans with dedicated fans, to high-level racing, the origins of drifting, and a strong focus on personalization, it’s a uniquely appealing scene. He wanted to capture this inclusive atmosphere – where both newcomers and experienced enthusiasts feel welcome – in the game’s world.

Will Forza Horizon 6 Include Changing Seasons?

Starting with *Forza Horizon 4*, the developers at Playground Games have been creating open-world environments that evolve with gameplay, featuring realistic seasons that dramatically change the scenery. Japan is famous for its stunning seasonal shifts-from hot summers and snowy winters to the breathtaking Sakura season, when cherry blossoms bloom beautifully across the landscape.

According to Arceta, players of *Horizon* are used to seeing changes with the seasons, as it’s a key part of the game. In the upcoming Japan-based content, these seasonal shifts will not only visually transform the environment, but also reflect the rich cultural significance of the seasons in Japanese culture.

In *Forza Horizon 6*, the changing seasons don’t just affect the game’s appearance-they also change the overall gameplay experience.

Yamashita explains that the team created a system where the changing seasons genuinely affect the game world, influencing everything from colors and activity to the sounds you hear. They’re particularly proud of the small details – things like train station announcements or the gentle ringing of wind chimes in summer – which create a strong sense of place without needing any on-screen text. These subtle touches, they believe, add a lot of realism.

When Can We See Gameplay?

Today’s reveal was just a small preview, and we’ll be learning a lot more about the game soon – not just the location. More details are coming quickly!

Arceta announced that more details about *Forza Horizon 6* will be shared in early 2026. They encourage fans to follow official *Forza* channels for the latest news and expressed their excitement for what’s to come.

Watch the announcement trailer below.

Announce Teaser Trailer

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2025-09-25 14:03