Forza Horizon 6 Won't Let Players Smash Important Cultural Elements of Japan

Forza Horizon 6 has decided to make some structures and trees that hold cultural importance in Japan indestructible. The decision comes after several other AAA games, also set in Japan like Forza Horizon 6, faced criticism over depictions of sacred elements that some Japanese people found disrespectful.

One recent example is the backlash against Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Despite the game’s financially successful release, Ubisoft faced early criticism for allowing players to destroy some sacred artifacts in shrines. Some Japanese politicians also raised concerns over the feature, which eventually led the developer to apologize and make adjustments to then-make such cultural items indestructible.

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Forza Horizon 6 Has Picked Respect over Realism

In Forza Horizon 6, players cannot demolish cherry blossom trees. Other trees can be destroyed, but not cherry blossom trees. While that choice may go against the high level of immersion the series is known for, there is a good reason behind it. Forza Horizon 6‘s design director, Torben Ellert, said the team has been careful to stay respectful and treat the game as a “simcade,” a blend of simulation and arcade that does not sacrifice everything just to feel realistic.

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Certain temples or other cultural elements are also excluded so that players aren’t tempted to drive through shrines or locations of cultural importance.

In an interview with The Japan Times, Ellert also said, “Certain temples or other cultural elements are also excluded so that players aren’t tempted to drive through shrines or locations of cultural importance.” One reason Forza Horizon 6 has been so careful with details like this is the game’s cultural consultant, Kyoko Yamashita. Yamashita has played a critical role in developer Playground Games’ research into Japan’s values and beliefs, which likely influenced the decision to protect specific elements in Forza Horizon 6‘s world.

Why Forza Horizon 6 Is Especially Careful with Trees

For those wondering why trees should be treated differently in a game, the answer lies in Japan’s spiritual beliefs. According to Glenn Moore and Cassandra Atherton, two university professors who have studied the variation of old trees in Japan, some trees used to be “marked with a sacred rope called a shimenawa, warning that if anyone chopped down the tree, they would have to deal with an angry spirit.” Forza Horizon 6‘s Japan-inspired map may not mark every unsmashable tree or scare reckless drivers away with vengeful spirits, but it will not let players damage them regardless.

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Forza Horizon 6‘s fanbase does not seem particularly bothered by the decision. Some players have even appreciated that the game features dense forest areas where most trees and objects can still be smashed through. In some previous Forza Horizon games, one common complaint was how certain trees and obstacles would abruptly stop players after a collision. That seems to be less of an issue this time around, as developer Playground Games has made most vegetation destructible. The change appears to have helped balance the decision to preserve cherry blossom trees and a handful of other objects.

As of this writing, and based on Early Access data, most Forza Horizon 6 reviews have been positive. On Steam alone, it has received more than 12,000 user reviews, with over 70% recommending it to other players. That does not mean the game has avoided criticism entirely, but most complaints focus on performance issues and crashes as opposed to anything insensitive to the setting.