Forza Horizon 6 is the next major chapter in the legendary open-world racing franchise from Playground Games. Set in a stunning recreation of Japan, the game promises to deliver the most ambitious Horizon experience yet. This in-depth preview and review explores everything players need to know, including gameplay, cars, world design, multiplayer, customization, accessibility, and long-term content. Whether you are a longtime Horizon fan or a newcomer, this guide breaks down why Forza Horizon 6 is shaping up to be one of 2026’s biggest racing releases.
What Is Forza Horizon 6?
Forza Horizon 6 is an open-world racing game developed by Playground Games and published by Xbox Game Studios. It is the sixth entry in the Forza Horizon series and follows the massive success of Forza Horizon 5. The game continues the Horizon Festival concept, where players explore a large open world, compete in races, collect cars, and take part in community events.
This time, the festival moves to Japan, a location fans have requested for years. The setting allows the developers to showcase a mix of dense urban environments, mountain roads, countryside highways, coastal routes, and iconic landmarks. The result is a world designed to support both high-speed racing and relaxed exploration.
Forza Horizon 6 blends arcade accessibility with realistic driving physics. It is designed to be welcoming for casual players while still offering depth for serious racing fans. The game builds on the strengths of previous entries and adds new systems to make progression, customization, and social play more meaningful.
Release Date and Platforms
Forza Horizon 6 is scheduled to release on May 19, 2026, for Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC. Players who purchase the Premium Edition can access the game early, starting on May 15, 2026.
For the first time in the series, Forza Horizon 6 is also confirmed to be coming to PlayStation 5 later in 2026. This marks a major shift for the franchise and expands the Horizon audience to a new platform.
Forza Horizon 6 will be available on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass on day one, making it easily accessible for subscribers.
The Japan Setting: A Dream Location for Racing Fans
Japan is one of the most iconic countries in car culture, and Forza Horizon 6 fully embraces this legacy. The game world is a stylized but authentic interpretation of Japan, designed to capture the atmosphere and variety of real locations.
Tokyo: The Largest City in Horizon History
Forza Horizon 6 features the biggest city ever created for a Horizon game. Tokyo is presented as a massive urban area with multiple districts. Players can race through neon-lit streets, industrial docks, highways, residential suburbs, and commercial centers.
The city is built to support street racing, drifting, drag racing, and cinematic night driving. Narrow alleys, wide boulevards, and complex intersections make Tokyo a playground for skill-based driving.
Mountain Passes and Touge Roads
Japan’s legendary mountain roads play a major role in the game. These tight, winding routes are perfect for drifting, time attacks, and technical racing. Locations inspired by famous mountain passes give players the chance to experience classic Japanese driving culture.
These roads reward precision and control, making them ideal for players who enjoy mastering car handling.
Countryside and Coastal Areas
Beyond the cities and mountains, Forza Horizon 6 includes open countryside, rural villages, forests, and coastal highways. These areas offer long stretches of road for high-speed racing and scenic driving.
The variety in terrain ensures that no two races feel the same. Players can switch from city sprints to mountain climbs to seaside cruises in a single session.
Car Roster: Over 550 Vehicles at Launch
One of the biggest highlights of Forza Horizon 6 is its massive car lineup. The game launches with over 550 cars, making it the largest roster in Horizon history.
The selection includes:
- Japanese domestic market (JDM) legends.
- Modern hypercars and supercars.
- Classic muscle cars.
- European luxury vehicles.
- Off-road and rally machines.
- Track-focused race cars.
The strong focus on Japanese car culture means players can expect a deep lineup of brands like Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Mazda, Subaru, and Mitsubishi. Drift icons, tuner favorites, and classic JDM models play a major role in the garage.
Forza Edition Cars
Forza Edition cars return with extreme tuning and unique bonuses. These special vehicles are designed to stand out and offer gameplay advantages in specific event types.
Aftermarket and Rare Finds
Players can discover special cars parked around the world. These Aftermarket Cars can be test-driven and added to the collection. This system encourages exploration and rewards players for discovering hidden locations.
Driving Physics and Handling Improvements
Forza Horizon 6 continues to refine the balance between realism and accessibility. The driving model has been updated to provide more responsive handling, better weight transfer, and improved tire behavior.
New features include:
- Enhanced steering animations.
- Up to 540 degrees of wheel rotation.
- Updated tire wear visuals.
- Improved surface interaction.
These changes make each car feel more distinct and increase immersion. Whether using a controller or a racing wheel, players will notice more detailed feedback.
The physics system is flexible, allowing players to customize assists such as traction control, stability control, and braking. This makes the game enjoyable for beginners and competitive players alike.
Livery Editor and Creative Tools
The livery editor remains one of the most powerful creative tools in the genre. Forza Horizon 6 improves this system with higher layer limits, more precise placement controls, and improved sharing features. Players can create complex designs with greater accuracy and less time investment.
The community sharing system makes it easier to browse, rate, and download liveries. Trending designs and featured creators are highlighted, giving talented artists more visibility. This strengthens the creative ecosystem and encourages players to engage beyond just racing.
Custom car meets are also more prominent. These social spaces allow players to show off builds, take photos, and interact with others in a relaxed environment. This reflects real-world car culture and adds authenticity to the Horizon Festival experience.
Campaign and Progression System
Forza Horizon 6 introduces a more structured campaign focused on progression and identity. Instead of starting as a superstar, players begin as visitors to Japan and work their way up.
Wristband System
The game uses a wristband progression system. Players complete events to earn new wristbands, which unlock new races, locations, and challenges. Each tier represents a higher level of prestige within the Horizon Festival. This system creates a clear sense of advancement and gives players meaningful goals to work toward.
Legend Island
At the highest level of progression, players gain access to Legend Island. This exclusive region features unique events, special tracks, and elite challenges. Reaching this area is a mark of true mastery.
Forza Horizon 6 Map
Forza Horizon 6 map delivers a massive, seamless festival world designed to reward constant exploration. The environment blends modern city zones, long highways, and open natural areas into a single connected driving space. Each region flows naturally into the next, encouraging players to change routes, discover shortcuts, and experience different driving styles without interruption.
Urban areas feature wide streets, tight back roads, and layered routes that support both high-speed racing and technical cornering. Outside the city, mountain roads, forests, and open plains create varied terrain that challenges players to master drifting, braking, and throttle control in different conditions.
Dynamic weather and lighting reshape how roads feel and look, while hidden routes, scenic locations, and secret challenges reward curiosity. The evolving map design ensures that every drive feels fresh, unpredictable, and uniquely tailored to player choices.
Multiplayer Modes
Multiplayer is a core part of the Horizon experience, and Forza Horizon 6 expands on this with new social systems and seamless online integration.
Cross-Play and Cross-Save
Forza Horizon 6 supports full cross-play and cross-save across Xbox, PC, and PlayStation 5. Players can continue their progress on different platforms and play with friends regardless of system.
This is a major step forward for the franchise and makes the community more unified than ever.
Open-World Events
New shared activities appear directly in the open world. These include:
- Drag Meets.
- Time Attack Circuits.
- Co-op Link Skill challenges.
These events require no matchmaking and allow players to jump in instantly with others nearby.
Classic Multiplayer Modes
Fan-favorite modes like The Eliminator and Hide & Seek return. These modes provide fast-paced, competitive alternatives to standard racing and add variety to the experience.
Customization
In Forza Horizon 6, customization is deeper than in the previous version, like Forza Horizon 5. Players can fine-tune performance, visuals, and personal spaces.
Visual Customization
New options include:
- Window liveries.
- Expanded body kits.
- Updated Forza Aero parts.
- More detailed paint and vinyl tools.
These tools allow players to create unique designs and showcase their creativity.
Performance Tuning
Advanced tuning options return, allowing players to adjust gear ratios, suspension, aerodynamics, and more. This system supports competitive racing and personal driving styles.
Custom Garages and Player Houses
Forza Horizon 6 introduces customizable player garages that act as personal hubs. Each house includes a large, fully customizable garage where players can display favorite cars, change lighting, and rearrange vehicle placement. This transforms the garage into a digital showroom.
Players can unlock different properties across the map, each with unique benefits and styles. Some homes offer faster travel perks, while others provide bonus rewards or exclusive customization options. This system encourages exploration and gives players long-term goals beyond racing.
Garages also integrate with photo mode and EventLab, allowing players to use their personal spaces as creative environments. This adds emotional attachment to collections and makes progression feel more personal.
EventLab and Community Creations
EventLab in Forza Horizon 6 has been significantly expanded to support more complex and creative player-made content. Players can now design full race experiences using a larger selection of props, track elements, and logic tools.
Improved UI tools make track creation more accessible, even for players with no design experience. At the same time, advanced creators can use deeper logic systems to build custom game modes, obstacle courses, and time-based challenges.
The featured EventLab playlist highlights top community creations each week. This encourages innovation and gives players a steady stream of fresh content. Over time, this system ensures that Forza Horizon 6 continues to feel new long after launch.
Audio and Sound Design
Audio has received major attention in Forza Horizon 6. Each engine sound has been re-recorded and remastered to better reflect real-world performance. Turbo whine, gear shifts, exhaust pops, and tire noise are more detailed and responsive.
Environmental audio adds to immersion. City areas feature traffic noise, distant sirens, and crowd sounds, while rural zones focus on wind, wildlife, and natural ambiance. Mountain routes emphasize echo effects and road surface changes, making each environment feel distinct.
The music selection includes a wide range of genres, including electronic, rock, hip-hop, J-pop, and instrumental tracks. Multiple radio stations allow players to tailor the experience to their taste. Dynamic music transitions adjust intensity based on race situations.
Accessibility Features
Forza Horizon 6 continues to lead in accessibility. The game includes:
- American Sign Language and British Sign Language.
- High contrast visual modes.
- Car proximity radar.
- AutoDrive assistance.
- Extensive control remapping.
These options ensure that players with different needs can enjoy the game fully.
Performance and Visual Quality
On Xbox Series X|S and modern PCs, Forza Horizon 6 targets high frame rates and detailed visuals. The game uses updated lighting, improved reflections, and enhanced weather effects.
Tokyo at night is a visual highlight, with neon lighting, wet roads, and dense traffic creating a cinematic atmosphere. Seasonal changes and dynamic weather add variety and challenge to races.
Long-Term Support
Like previous Horizon titles, Forza Horizon 6 is expected to receive regular updates, seasonal content, and major expansions. Premium Edition includes access to future expansion packs. These expansions traditionally add new maps, cars, and gameplay modes, extending the life of the game. Seasonal playlists and live events keep the world fresh and encourage players to return regularly.
Forza Horizon 6 System Requirements
Minimum System Requirements (PC)
- Operating System: Windows 10 22H2 (version 19045) or newer.
- Processor: Intel Core i5-8400 OR AMD Ryzen 5 1600.
- Memory: 16 GB RAM.
- Graphics Card: NVIDIA GTX 1650, AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT, Intel Arc A380 or Arc B390.
- DirectX: Version 12.
- Storage: SSD Required (HDD not supported).
- Network: Broadband Internet connection.
Recommended System Requirements (PC)
- Operating System: Windows 11.
- Processor: Intel Core i7-8700 OR AMD Ryzen 5 1600.
- Memory: 16 GB RAM.
- Graphics Card: NVIDIA GTX 1660, AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT, Intel Arc A380 or Arc B390.
- DirectX: Version 12.
Forza Horizon 6 Trailer
FAQs
When is Forza Horizon 6 releasing?
Forza Horizon 6 is officially scheduled to launch on May 19, 2026, for Xbox Series X|S and PC.
What is the Forza Horizon 6 Price?
- PC: Standard Edition priced at $69.99 USD, and Premium Edition listed at $119.99 USD.
- PS5: Standard Edition at $69.99 USD, and Premium Edition available for $119.99 USD.
- Xbox: Standard Edition at $69.99, Deluxe at $99.99, and Premium Edition at $119.99.
Is Forza Horizon 6 coming to PlayStation 5?
Yes, a PS5 version is confirmed, but it will release after the Xbox and PC launch.
Where is Forza Horizon 6 set?
The game is set in Japan, featuring locations inspired by Tokyo, Mount Fuji, countryside roads, and coastal highways.
Will Forza Horizon 6 be on Xbox Game Pass?
Yes, it will be available day one on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
Does Forza Horizon 6 support cross-play?
Yes, full cross-play is supported between Xbox, PC, and PlayStation 5.
Does Forza Horizon 6 support cross-save?
Yes, for the first time in the series, Forza Horizon 6 includes full cross-save across Xbox, PC (Steam), and PS5.
Will Forza Horizon 6 run on Xbox One?
No, Forza Horizon 6 is exclusive to Xbox Series X|S and will not run on Xbox One.
How many cars are in Forza Horizon 6?
At launch, the game is expected to feature over 550 cars.
Does Forza Horizon 6 have ray tracing?
Yes, the PC version includes enhanced ray tracing along with DLSS, FSR, and XeSS support.
Is there early access for Forza Horizon 6?
Yes, Premium Edition owners can play up to 4 days early, starting May 15, 2026.
Final Verdict
Forza Horizon 6 is shaping up to be the most ambitious and feature-rich entry in the series. The Japan setting, massive car roster, expanded multiplayer, and deeper customization systems combine to create a racing game with unmatched scope.
The addition of PlayStation 5, full cross-play, and cross-save support marks a new era for the franchise. Whether you love drifting mountain roads, racing through city streets, or collecting hundreds of cars, Forza Horizon 6 offers something for every racing fan.
