NewsLuke HendersonJanuary 23, 2026XSX, PC, Xbox Game Studios, Forza Horizon 6, Playground Games, PS5

Forza Horizon 6 gets a first look and a release date

NewsLuke HendersonJanuary 23, 2026XSX, PC, Xbox Game Studios, Forza Horizon 6, Playground Games, PS5

Playground Games were up first at the recent Xbox Developer_Direct, where they put the spotlight on Forza Horizon 6. Japan is the country this time and the first big change, you need to need to join the Horizon Festival, you are not a superstar this time, which is very similar to the original game. The game comes on May 19 for Xbox Series X|S and PC, with PlayStation 5 later in the year.

Yes, much like most of the world, you are heading to Japan as a tourist first and the journey will bring you into contact with the Horizon festival, letting you join in on the action. You start at the bottom, just like you did in the first few games and as you compete in events and earn higher wristbands, you will begin to unlock new cars and more. Once you earn the Legendary wristband, you will unlock Legendary Island, a home only accessible to those who have achieved this goal.

The team took a lot of time to ensure that the country was reflected in the game, as authentically as possible, along with giving it that Forza Horizon flavour. That means there is a version of Tokyo, which is four times larger than any city they have had in the game. Japan is not just city driving, as there are fields, mountain passes and of course, each area will change with the seasons.

One of the new additions is the ability to be driven to a destination, this is one of those new accessibility features, but means that if you just want to enjoy the mountains or city streets, you can let the game drive your car for you.

The game will offer more than 550 cars to collect, at least at launch, with a number of cars taken from Japan, including a few rare ones you might not know about. The cover car is an all new Nissan GT-R, which takes a number of their race car options, but putting them into a car that you can drive on the roads.

“The 2025 GR GT Prototype is really special to us because it’s our hero cover car, but it’s also a car that you drive as part of what we call the Initial Experience. It’s the first 10 minutes of the game where you get to drive the car, almost as a prelude. You get to do some off-roading in The Alps, race the Shinkansen (bullet train), and get a taste of what’s to come.

“Then, we take that all away and say, ‘well that’s about the festival, and you’re not in the festival’, this brief experience with the 2025 GR GT Prototype is aspirational, almost like a dream, and it gives you that aspiration to go out and earn that car yourself because it really is an amazing thing.”

— Torben Ellert, Design Director on Forza Horizon 6

While there are a number of cars shown off in the presentation, there has not been an official list released yet and the only confirmed cars are the 2025 GR GT Prototype and the 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser, both of which appear in the key art for the game, which you can see at the top. The store listing for the game also includes mention of Ferrari J50, which will be given to folks who pre-order the game.

Player customisation is here as well, you will have a location at the Tokyo Docks when you start, but the homes you can buy across the country will come with spaces for a few cars. There are eight of these locations around the world, which are not only your home base for the area, but fast travel points to help you get around.

There is a location where you can buy it and then add permanent buildings and features, which once placed are locked in and then other players can visit it. This location is called The Estate, yes it is capitalised like that and it is a vastly larger piece of land for you to buy.

“The Estate is inspired by this – it’s an old property that belonged to Mei’s family, and as you’ve travelled to Japan together, she’s asked you to help fix it up. Being responsible for an Akiya is really rooted in community, you take on the job of refurbishing somewhere that’s useful and meaningful to the people around you.”

— Torben Ellert, Design Director on Forza Horizon 6

Forza Horizon 6 will race onto Xbox Series X|S and PC on May 19, those willing to pay for the privilege can pick up the game on May 16 by buying the Premium Edition. The game will also come to PlayStation 5 later in the year, but no date or even window was given. There are three ways to pick up the game, Game Pass Ultimate members will get the base game included, for those buying these are the options.

Standard Edition - $109.95
- Game
Deluxe Edition - $159.95
- Game
- Car Pass
- Welcome Pack
Premium Edition - $189.95
- Game
- Car Pass
- Welcome Pack
- Expansion 1
- Expansion 2
- VIP Status
- Time Attack Car Pack
- Italian Passion Car Pack