Forza Horizon 6 launches May 19 for Xbox Series and PC, later in 2026 for PS5

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Okay, so I’m super excited – Forza Horizon 6 is officially coming out on May 19th for Xbox Series and PC! You’ll be able to grab it on Steam and the Microsoft Store. PlayStation 5 players will have to wait a bit longer, though – it’s slated for sometime in 2026. The best part? It’s going to be on Game Pass, so I can jump right in!

A Premium Edition will also be available, which includes the following content:

  • Early Access – Play four days early starting May 15
  • VIP Membership
  • Welcome Pack
  • Car Pass
  • Time Attack Car Pack
  • Italian Passion Car Pack (coming post-launch)
  • Two Premium Expansions (coming post-launch)

Here are the latest details, via Xbox Wire:

The Start

Unlike previous Forza Horizon games, you begin Forza Horizon 6 as a visitor, hoping to experience the Horizon Festival in Japan. While past games had you quickly becoming a pro driver – rising through the ranks in Britain (Horizon 4) or already established after your career in Mexico (Horizon 5) – Horizon 6 feels like a brand new beginning. This approach aims to attract both dedicated car fans and players who simply enjoy working towards a big achievement.

At its heart, the appeal lies in the desire to visit somewhere new and exciting, a place you’re truly curious about,” Ellert explains. “People are drawn to the Horizon Festival in Japan, but initially as spectators, hoping to one day participate. This setup perfectly captures the feeling of possibility and invites us to consider: what would it take to abandon everything and chase your dreams on the other side of the world?”

The game is designed to feel like stepping into a new world, almost as if you’ve just arrived somewhere with friends who share your goals and understand the environment. It’s about projecting yourself into this fresh start and experiencing the excitement of endless possibilities.

The Country

Forza Horizon 6 moves the action to Japan, offering a stunning landscape of mountains and cities. It’s the most visually impressive location the game has ever seen, with incredible views, vibrant cityscapes, and atmospheric waterfront areas, all expertly crafted. The developers didn’t aim for a perfect, exact copy of Japan, but rather a streamlined and captivating representation of its spirit.

Ellert points out that creating a truly immersive environment isn’t about perfectly recreating a location, but capturing its atmosphere. He uses Tokyo as an example: when you think about driving there, it’s not just about the buildings, but the overall feeling – seeing the city appear in the distance, moving through the suburbs, and then being suddenly surrounded by skyscrapers in the downtown core.

As a gamer, I think it’s all about how a place feels when you explore it, not just how it looks. It’s not about perfectly copying every detail, but capturing that moment of discovery when you round a corner and something new is revealed. It’s about the overall experience and how it makes you feel when you’re moving through the world, paying attention to the little things and the vibe of each location.

When designing this game, we focused on capturing both the immersive feeling of being in the world and the fun, open-world gameplay that players expect from Horizon. That means finding a sweet spot – you should feel present in the environment, but also be able to do things like drive a fast car off a cliff and still enjoy it, earning rewards for the experience.

The world of Forza Horizon 6 is a huge and beautiful map divided into unique areas. As you explore, each district feels instantly familiar. For example, the suburban areas around Tokyo feature winding streets and cozy homes, complete with overhead telephone wires.

Tokyo’s docklands are a busy industrial area filled with massive cranes and huge cargo ships. It’s a striking contrast to see this imposing, concrete architecture alongside the city’s small, cheerful cars.

The game also features a vibrant downtown area, including famous spots like Shibuya Crossing, Ginko Avenue, and Tokyo Tower. These impressive landmarks are connected by a network of busy streets, secret shortcuts, and winding paths, all built to keep the action moving at the fast pace players expect from Horizon.

Ellert explains that the city combines towering buildings, glass, bright neon lights, and advertisements, resulting in an incredibly dense environment unlike anything the team has created previously. He states it’s the most visually striking and unique space they’ve ever designed for a Horizon game.

The Culture

You’re not going to Japan by yourself – two of your close friends are joining you! Jordy loves motorsports, and Mei is a skilled Japanese car builder, bringing unique knowledge and insight to your trip. This insider’s view was inspired by Kyoko Yamashita, Playground Games’ Cultural Consultant, who helped shape the experience.

During our team’s trip to Japan, we realized how beneficial it is to have a local guide. As Ellert puts it, even with thorough research, a tourist can miss important details. Having someone with an insider’s view is crucial when trying to accurately represent a place.

The Journal

As a long-time Horizon fan, I was really glad to hear they were keeping the wristband system for unlocking cars and races – it’s a core part of what I love about the games! But the developers, Playground Games, didn’t stop there. They wanted to add something new for explorers like me, a real reason to dig into the world and that really felt like Japan. That’s where the Collection Journal came in. It’s inspired by the Japanese tradition of collecting stamps, and it lets you build a digital collection of all sorts of cool things you find while driving around Japan. It’s a fantastic way to reward exploration and connect you to the culture!

What I really loved about the game was how it let me experience a truly Japanese adventure, but in a way that felt guided and rewarding. Whenever I stumbled upon something cool – a beautiful landmark or hidden spot – it automatically got added to my in-game journal. That journal wasn’t just for memories though! It actually helped me level up within the Horizon Festival and generally progress through my journey across Japan, which was a really neat way to connect exploration with a sense of accomplishment.

In Forza Horizon 6, The Journal enhances the exploration experience, building on the game’s focus on player freedom – letting you truly be an adventurer, not just a car enthusiast. You can also personalize your journey by taking and saving photos of interesting murals, landmarks, and locations directly within the journal.

Ellert explains that it’s a way to visually show your personal experiences and travels in Japan – a collection of what you specifically did and saw.

The Estate

Just like in past Horizon games, you can unlock eight player homes across Japan. These act as quick travel spots, let you customize things, and each includes a garage to showcase your cars. A new feature in Horizon 6 is The Estate – a much bigger plot of land you can buy and build on however you like. You can expand it as much as you want, and its design is heavily influenced by Japanese culture.

The Estate project is inspired by ‘Akiya,’ a Japanese concept referring to abandoned homes in the countryside. These properties are frequently inherited, but families often can’t afford to demolish them, so they’re left to decay over time.

Ellert explained that the property’s inspiration comes from Mei’s family history – it’s an old family home she wants to restore. Since you’ve traveled to Japan with her, she’s asked for your help with the renovations. He emphasized that taking on a project like this – restoring an abandoned home – is about contributing to the local community by bringing a meaningful space back to life.

The Estate is a completely open building space where you can create almost anything imaginable – from cozy cabins to custom racetracks. The only limit is the in-game currency needed to construct things. Building costs a small amount of credits, which you earn by playing the game, but you’ll get those credits back if you ever remove your creations.

Ellert explains that the game fosters a feeling of accomplishment because you earn rewards through gameplay. Whether it’s winning races, completing deliveries like tofu runs, or simply exploring, you gain credits through your actions. This creates a unique Japanese-inspired world that feels truly earned, not just built.

Car Meets

To truly capture the spirit of both casual and professional racing, Forza Horizon 6 introduces Car Meets, a feature inspired by the vibrant Japanese car scene. These gatherings take inspiration from Daikoku, a famous, unofficial meeting spot where car lovers come together. It’s always open to anyone, with no formal events or requirements to join.

For permanent Car Meets in the game, there are three locations: the Horizon Festival, a parking area near The Alps called Okuibuki, and the iconic Daikoku location itself. At these spots, players can connect with others, admire each other’s cars, share or download custom designs, and even buy cars they like. It’s a smooth and social experience you can enjoy solo or with friends, bringing the community spirit of Horizon 6 to life.

The Cars

Forza Horizon 6 offers players unprecedented freedom in how they play and explore the game. However, the developers haven’t compromised on quality when it comes to the cars available. At launch, players can collect around 550 different vehicles, including the featured cover cars: the 2025 GR GT Prototype and the 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser.

The stunning key art for Forza Horizon 6, unveiled at Developer_Direct, truly brings the featured cars to life. According to Ellert, the artwork’s design was inspired by the contrasting sides of Japan – its cities and countryside, modern and traditional elements – and uses a mix of materials, textures, and colors to reflect this. The visual style also draws heavily from Sumi-E, traditional Japanese ink paintings. The Forza team even worked with a Master Artist to accurately capture the essence of this art form. They also collaborated closely with Toyota to ensure the in-game and real-life details of both the 2025 Land Cruiser and the new 2025 GR GT Prototype are perfectly represented for players.

Ellert explains that the 2025 GR GT Prototype is particularly important because it’s featured prominently in the game’s marketing. It also serves as the ‘Initial Experience’ – the first ten minutes of gameplay where players can drive the car. This acts as a preview, letting you try some off-road driving in the Alps and even race against the Shinkansen bullet train, giving you a feel for what the full game will offer.

This short experience with the 2025 GR GT Prototype is more of a glimpse into the future – a dream, even. It’s designed to inspire you to work towards owning this incredible car yourself.

Torben also points out how important cars have become in modern life. While exotic supercars might be limited to a few or enjoyed virtually in games like Forza Horizon, cars are an everyday necessity for many people, and even those who aren’t car fans usually put a lot of thought into their purchase.

Cars are typically one of the most significant purchases people make, and they’re incredibly complex machines. As Ellert points out, cars are often bold, attention-grabbing, and visually appealing. They’re frequently linked to popular culture, celebrity lifestyles, and the promise of independence and travel.

For me, the Horizon games are all about enjoying freedom, having fun, experiencing beauty, and connecting with others. Forza Horizon 6 lets players explore a stunning world in incredible cars, all within a game that’s easy to pick up and play with friends.

Watch a new trailer below.

Gameplay Teaser Trailer

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2026-01-22 21:19