This article first appeared on Game Empress, covering the Forza Horizon 6 preload and storage details for Xbox and PC. You can find more gaming news at gameempress.com.
You can now download Forza Horizon 6 before its official release on Xbox Series X|S and PC through the Xbox app. The game requires a significant amount of storage space – between 130GB and 167GB, depending on your platform and where you purchase it from. Specifically, it needs 135GB on Xbox Series X, 130GB on Xbox Series S, and around 160GB on PC via the Xbox app. The Steam version for PC requires 167GB, and an SSD (Solid State Drive) is necessary for the PC version no matter where you buy it. If you purchased the Premium Edition, you can start playing on May 15, 2026. Everyone else can jump in on May 19, 2026.
Forza Horizon 6 Storage Requirements by Platform
These numbers show how much storage space you’ll need available on your device before you start installing, not the size of the file you download. The actual download size can vary depending on how the files are compressed, the game edition, your region, and any updates released on day one.
| Platform | Required Storage |
|---|---|
| Xbox Series X | 135GB |
| Xbox Series S | 130GB |
| PC via Xbox app | 160GB (SSD required) |
| PC via Steam | 167GB (SSD required) |
The amount of storage Forza Motorsport needs on your PC differs a bit depending on where you buy it. The Xbox app says you’ll need 160GB, but Steam lists 167GB for both the minimum and recommended system requirements. Importantly, the game requires a fast SSD – traditional hard drives won’t work.
You might notice the download size shown on your screen differs a bit from the official storage requirements listed above. This can happen due to things like where you’re downloading from, your location, game updates, or how the files are compressed. It’s best to go by the official storage numbers to ensure you have enough space.
Is Forza Horizon 6 Preload Available Now?
Good news for me and other Xbox Series X|S and PC gamers! Playground Games just announced that preloading the game is now live on both Xbox through the Xbox app and on PC. I can start downloading it now, which is awesome!
When Playground announced preloads, Steam said it was “coming soon.” To see if it’s available now, please check the Steam store page.
Who Can Preload Forza Horizon 6?
The following players can pre-download the game ahead of launch:
- Pre-order buyers on Xbox Series X|S or PC via the Xbox app
- Game Pass Ultimate subscribers with an active subscription
- PC Game Pass subscribers with an active subscription
- Xbox disc pre-orders can initiate the digital preload through the Xbox smartphone app
If you downloaded a temporary file earlier, please check for updates to make sure the complete game has been installed.
Early Access and Full Launch Dates
| Edition | Access Date |
|---|---|
| Premium Edition / Premium Upgrade | May 15, 2026 |
| Standard Edition — Xbox Series X|S and PC | May 19, 2026 |
Players who bought the Premium Edition or upgraded to the Premium add-on can start playing Forza Horizon 6 four days before the official launch. The Standard and Deluxe editions will unlock on May 19th for everyone. You can find specific launch times for your region and a detailed list of what’s included in each edition in our guide to Forza Horizon 6 early access and start times.
Forza Horizon 6 is now available to play with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. A version for PlayStation 5 is planned for release sometime in 2026, though the exact date isn’t known yet. If you’re interested in completing everything the game has to offer, we’ve put together a complete guide to all 57 achievements and how to earn 1,000 Gamerscore.
Why Steam Players May See a Different Size
Steam says you’ll need 167GB of free space to run the game, which is 7GB more than the 160GB required for the PC version on the Xbox app. Both versions need a solid-state drive (SSD).
The difference in reported game size – 160GB on Playground Games’ announcement and 167GB on Steam – seems to be a simple listing variation, not an actual error. PC players should just use the storage requirement shown on whichever store they’re buying the game from.
Steam is showing slightly different release dates than official sources. For example, Steam lists the game launching on May 18th and becoming available with early access on May 14th, while the official Forza and Xbox pages state May 19th and May 15th respectively. The dates provided by Playground Games and Xbox are the official and confirmed release schedule.
The Preload Leak: What Playground Games Actually Said
Besides the official early access download, a pre-release version of the PC game Forza Horizon 6 was found online before it came out.
Initially, people thought the leak was caused by files appearing in Steam before the game was officially released. However, Playground Games has clarified that wasn’t the source of the problem. You can find a detailed explanation of the leak and how it happened in our article: Forza Horizon 6 Reportedly Leaked Online After Unencrypted Files Appeared on Steam.
Okay, so Playground just put out a pretty serious warning! Apparently, there’s a leaked version of the game floating around, and they’re saying if you download or share it, you could get banned – not just from this game, but potentially from everything they make! They’re even talking about banning your actual console or PC. Basically, they’re begging us not to mess with any leaked builds and to only play when it officially releases. I think we should all listen to them!
Playground’s public position is that the leaked build was not caused by the official preload.
What to Do Before Launch
- Xbox Series X: Clear at least 135GB of free storage
- Xbox Series S: Clear at least 130GB of free storage
- PC via Xbox app: Clear at least 160GB and confirm your install drive is an SSD
- PC via Steam: Clear at least 167GB and confirm your install drive is an SSD
- If you downloaded a placeholder file previously, check for a preload update in your library
- Do not access any unofficial pre-release builds — Playground Games has warned of franchise-wide and hardware bans for doing so
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2026-05-12 02:29