Forza Horizon 6 Ties Up With 9 Japanese Artists for Gorgeous In-Game Murals, Billboards and More

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While setting the game in Japan is a great start for Forza Horizon 6, Playground Games is also focused on capturing the country’s unique feel and visual style. That’s why it makes sense they’re collaborating with Japanese artists to create original artwork for the game, reflecting the different areas within it.

The “Art of Driving” series will highlight the work of nine artists in three parts. Currently, trailers and information are available for three of them: Satoshi Fujita (also known as Dragon76), Kazuhisa Uragami, and Inko Ai Takita. Fujita’s contribution is a modern mural inspired by the Nebuta Festival, incorporating a cyberpunk style.

The Nebuta Festival is famous for its huge, brightly lit floats, called ‘nebuta,’ which are made of paper and wire and often show characters from Japanese legends. For this particular float, I redesigned a popular mythological figure, Susanoo-no-Mikoto, alongside a dragon, giving them a look that’s almost futuristic, he explained.

Uragami designed a character who is both a rebel and a hero, drawing inspiration from myths, seafaring traditions, and the history of Kyushu. He wanted to move beyond the typical pirate stereotype, creating someone motivated by a strong personal code and a desire for freedom. To reflect Kyushu’s industrial past, he blended the pirate look with mechanical details like gears and metal parts in the character’s costume.

This design is similar to a traditional pirate costume, but with a unique twist: clockwork gears and a striking red scarf. The scarf pays homage to classic Japanese heroes and also represents Kyushu, a region known as the ‘land of fire.’ The background features an industrial setting inspired by the factories of Kitakyushu, complete with sparks and glowing lights to showcase the region’s lasting dedication to skilled craftsmanship and strength.

Takita took a unique approach, designing nine characters in the style of manga for billboards in Shibuya Crossing. These characters include Mr. Hot Bun Man, modeled after a popular treat from Gyoda City; Jun, who’s inspired by the horror artist Junji Ito; Sakura Fukatsu, a kimono-clad figure evoking traditional urban legends; and several others.

We’ve introduced three of the artists featured in Forza Horizon 6, and we’ll be sharing details on the other six soon. Get ready to experience their creations when the game releases on May 19th for Xbox Series X/S and PC. The first hands-on previews will be available starting April 8th.

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2026-04-06 22:41