Forza Horizon 6 Features, Early Access and Start Times

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Forza Horizon 6 is launching soon! The full game will be available on Xbox Series X|S and PC on May 19, 2026. Players who purchase the Premium Edition or Premium Upgrade will get to start playing four days early, on May 15.

A PlayStation 5 version is scheduled for later in 2026, with no firm date.

Preload is live and the game has gone gold

Players can now download Forza Horizon 6 if they’ve preordered it on Xbox Series X|S and through the Xbox app on PC. Steam users will be able to preload the game soon.

Okay, so if you’re planning on playing, Playground Games says you’ll need a good amount of storage space! On Xbox Series X, you’re looking at needing at least 135 GB free. If you’re on the Xbox Series S, it’s 130 GB. And if you’re a PC gamer, they recommend 160 GB of space, and they really suggest using an SSD for the best experience.

Playground announced that the game is now ‘gold,’ meaning the final version is complete and ready for release.

Who gets Early Access

If you want to play all of Forza Horizon 6’s features starting May 15th, you’ll need the Premium Edition, which costs $119.99. This is the only version that lets you start playing four days early.

The Standard Edition costs $69.99 and is available immediately with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. The Deluxe Edition is $99.99 and comes with the Car Pass, plus a Welcome Pack featuring five ready-to-use cars, a voucher for another car, and three clothing items. Neither edition gives you early access to the game.

If you have Xbox Game Pass and want access on May 15th, you can upgrade to the Premium version instead of buying the complete game.

If you buy any version of the full game or upgrade to the Premium Edition before it launches, you’ll get a special Ferrari J50 car as a free bonus.

Platforms and cross-play

The game is available on Xbox Series X|S and PC. On PC, you can find it on both the Microsoft Store and Steam.

Forza Horizon 6 will let players play together and continue their progress on both Xbox and PC. PlayStation 5 support for these features is expected to be added later in 2026. This is the first time the Forza Horizon series has allowed players to save their game progress and switch between Xbox and Steam.

The game is also listed as handheld optimized, with support for compatible PC handhelds.

Console performance modes

Forza Horizon 6 on Xbox Series X will offer two graphics modes. Players can choose between ‘Quality’ mode, which displays the game in native 4K resolution at 30 frames per second, and ‘Performance’ mode, which runs at a dynamic 4K resolution and a smoother 60 frames per second.

When playing on Xbox Series S, you can choose between two graphics settings: Quality mode delivers a sharper image at 1440p resolution with a frame rate of 30 frames per second, while Performance mode prioritizes smoother gameplay at 1080p and 60 frames per second.

The map: Japan

One of the biggest draws of Forza Horizon 6 is its location: a reimagined Japan. The developers at Playground Games say this is the most detailed and varied map in the series, featuring a Tokyo that’s bigger than any city seen in previous Horizon games.

The game’s map is based on real-world places like Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo Tower, and the C1 expressway. You’ll also find areas inspired by Mt. Haruna and Bandai Azuma mountain passes. The environment includes a variety of landscapes, from the city of Tokyo and alpine mountains to countryside, coastlines, and rice fields – each acting as a unique biome.

Okay, so the seasons are back, and they’re way more dynamic than in Forza Horizon 5. There’s this awesome alpine area that’s always covered in snow, no matter what season it is. But the good news is, even in winter, the main roads everywhere else are usually pretty clear, so you can still cruise around without getting stuck!

Cars and customization

Forza Horizon 6 offers greatly expanded customization options. Players will have access to over 550 cars at the game’s launch, including the brand-new 2025 Toyota GR GT Prototype and the 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser – both making their first appearance in a video game.

Players can now personalize their cars with new window decals, improved aerodynamic options, and realistic tire wear that shows as they race. The steering wheel now moves a full 540 degrees when viewed from inside the car, offering more immersive control.

Aftermarket Cars is a new feature that introduces pre-modified vehicles into the game world, and they’re usually available at a lower price.

The game starts with you as a visitor, not a new racer at the festival. You’ll progress by earning wristbands – a feature that returns from the original Forza Horizon game – and eventually unlock the final area, Legend Island. Alongside the classic Showcase events, there’s a new type of challenge called Horizon Rush, which tests your skills with obstacle courses. For dedicated players, there are 57 achievements to unlock, worth a total of 1,000 Gamerscore.

Multiplayer and creative tools

Horizon Play is a major new feature in Forza Horizon 6, designed to centralize all online activities. It features its own separate progression system, letting you level up independently of the main game. You’ll find returning favorites like The Eliminator and Hide & Seek, alongside two brand new modes: Spec Racing, which puts everyone in the same, unmodified car, and Touge Showdown, a head-to-head competition on five different mountain roads.

Enjoy seamless online car meets, drag races, and time attack competitions with up to 12 players – all without any loading screens between events.

EventLab is back with a new feature letting players build together in multiplayer, thanks to Horizon CoLab. Players can also enjoy two individual creative spaces: Customizable Garages and The Estate, a large, open property with mountains and valleys.

Possible unlock times if Microsoft uses midnight ET

Microsoft hasn’t yet said exactly when Forza Horizon 6 will be available to play. If they follow their usual pattern of releasing games at midnight Eastern Time, Early Access might begin on May 15th, and the full game on May 19th. However, players should wait for official confirmation from Microsoft or Playground Games before assuming this is the correct schedule.

New York: 12:00 a.m. ET
Los Angeles: 9:00 p.m. PT, the previous evening
London: 5:00 a.m. BST
Paris and Berlin: 6:00 a.m. CEST
Tokyo: 1:00 p.m. JST

Players who purchased the Premium Edition or upgraded to Premium will be able to start playing on May 15th. All other players, including those with Game Pass on the Standard Edition, can join on May 19th.

2026-05-05 01:59