Playground Games just rolled out the first proper look at Forza Horizon 6 — and it’s a big one. The series’ next mainline entry drops players into a condensed, lovingly rendered Japan on May 19 for Xbox Series X|S, PC and Xbox Cloud (early access for Premium Edition players starts May 15). A PlayStation 5 release follows later in 2026.
You arrive as a tourist
Instead of dropping players in as a headline-making driver, Horizon 6 starts small: you’re a fan with a dream to join the Horizon Festival in Japan. It’s a deliberate change of tone. Design Director Torben Ellert told press that the team wanted that “fresh start” feeling — the curiosity of getting off a plane, scouting a new place and slowly earning your spot in the festival rather than beginning at the top.
Short play snippets show the game’s initial moments: an aspirational run in the 2025 GR GT Prototype, some off-roading in the Alps and cheeky moments like racing the Shinkansen. That sequence is framed as a taste — something to chase by playing the game, not something you keep forever.
Japan, scaled for fun (not a 1:1 map)
Playground’s Japan is not a literal reproduction of the country’s roads. Instead, the studio focused on capturing the feel of Japan in a condensed, traversal-friendly world. Tokyo alone, the team says, is five times larger than any city they’ve made before and is split into distinct districts: suburbs with narrow streets and telephone wires, neon downtown with Shibuya Crossing and Tokyo Tower, and an industrial docklands area with cranes and freighters.
Seasonal changes return, and the team recorded environmental audio across all four seasons to make things feel alive — even tiny details like cherry blossoms reacting to a passing car were singled out during the presentation. If you play on PC or want to take this experience portable, remember the game will also be available on Steam and cloud services; recent changes to handheld PC workflows make grabbing a session on the go easier than ever for some players — a useful development for anyone who likes playing big open worlds away from their desk Steam Deck display-off downloads feature.
Culture, community and some genuinely neat systems
Forza Horizon 6 leans into Japanese car culture in thoughtful ways. A new Collection Journal — inspired by Japan’s stamp-collecting traditions — tracks mementos, photos and points of interest you discover while exploring. It’s an exploration-driven progression system that complements (rather than replaces) the festival wristband progression.
The Estate is another standout: inspired by the Japanese concept of akiya (abandoned family properties), it’s a large plot you can refurbish and build on. Want a mountain hideaway, a friend-only track, or a factory campus? Buy items with in-game credits and build it. Multiplayer building is supported, so friends can collaborate on a shared Estate.
Car Meets — permanent social hubs in three locations, including a Daikoku-style parking area — let players show off, download liveries and even purchase copies of other players’ cars. Car Meets aim to recreate the spontaneous community feel of real-world gatherings.
Cars, customization and accessibility
Expect more than 550 cars at launch, with expanded customization including new body kits and the ability to treat windows as part of your canvas for liveries. The revealed cover cars are the 2025 GR GT Prototype and the 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser. Pre-order bonuses include a rare Ferrari J50 tied to Japan’s centenary celebrations in the Forza universe.
Playground also emphasized accessibility: customizable high-contrast modes for visually impaired players are being added, plus features like autodrive and proximity radar. Those options continue the series’ trend toward making fast, arcade-style driving approachable for more players.
Editions, extras and how to play early
- Standard edition launches May 19 and is expected to retail around $70; Forza Horizon 6 will also be on Xbox Game Pass (Ultimate on console and PC Game Pass) from day one.
- Premium Edition and the Premium Upgrade both grant Early Access from May 15, VIP Membership, Car Pass and additional car packs (Time Attack Car Pack, Italian Passion Car Pack), plus Expansions 1 and 2 later on.
- The Car Pass will add 30 new cars across weekly drops, and several themed packs will be available at or after launch.
If you’re a PlayStation shopper holding out for the later 2026 release, remember devices like the PlayStation Portal can change how and where you play streamed PS5 games; Horizon landing on PS5 will likely be influenced by those cloud and streaming dynamics PlayStation Portal cloud update. If you’re considering upgrading to a console that’ll run the later version, the PlayStation 5 Pro is already listed by retailers and is an option to watch — PlayStation 5 Pro Console.
Little flourishes that matter
Playground had a few whimsical teases during the showcase — including a suggestive shot of giant robotic feet lurking behind a car (Gundam energy, anyone?). Whether that’ll become playable content or a crossover gag remains to be seen, but Horizon has a history of surprising players with pop-culture content.
Forza Horizon 6 looks like Playground Games’ most ambitious open world yet: larger urban density, more cars, deeper community features and systems that reward curiosity as much as racing skill. The series has always been about freedom — and this time, it feels like freedom with a passport stamp.
If you want to preorder, the Premium Edition and its upgrade to unlock Early Access went live with the announcement, and official channels (including the game’s store pages) list the complete bundle details and bonuses.