The latest look at Forza Horizon 6 highlights the title’s massive shift to its fresh Japanese setting, featuring a map five times larger than previous entries and a brand-new “tourist” campaign structure. The franchise continues its legacy as the gold standard for open-world racing, blending breathtaking scenery with an approachable, arcade-style driving feel. Ever since the series debuted in 2012, it has taken players on a global tour, from the colorful streets of Mexico in the fifth installment to the historic hills of Great Britain in Forza Horizon 4. These games have served as digital postcards, using the ForzaTech engine to push the limits of console hardware and visual fidelity. The upcoming release of Forza Horizon 6 faces high expectations following the massive success of its predecessor, which was the biggest launch in Xbox history and eventually reached an even wider audience on the PlayStation 5.
Setting a new benchmark after such massive success is no small feat, but the developers at Playground Games appear to be leaning into one of the most requested settings in the Forza series’ history — Japan. The franchise is known for its massive maps and a “Horizon Festival” atmosphere that celebrates car culture in a festive, music-filled environment. Historically, players started as superstars or festival leaders, but the upcoming entry will shift that dynamic, requiring players to prove their worth before they can even join the main event. As the community looks toward the middle of 2026, the focus has shifted entirely to how the team will handle its most ambitious and culturally nuanced project to date.
Forza Horizon 6 Locks Down Release Date, Skipping PS5 at Launch
The Japan-set Forza Horizon 6 officially locks down a release date, with Playground Games sharing it alongside a proper gameplay reveal.
A Visual Tour of the Japanese Wilderness
Xbox recently gave fans a visual feast by releasing a dedicated “Biomes Showcase” trailer, reaffirming that the next festival will be held in Japan. The two-minute video provides a high-speed tour of the game’s diverse landscapes in 4K resolution at 60 frames per second. The footage highlights five distinct geographical regions that players will be able to tear through, including the highlands, alpine regions, coastal paths, mountain ranges, and sprawling plains.
Specifically, the trailer shows off the power of the latest ForzaTech engine in Forza Horizon 6, moving from serene beaches and dense forests to quaint rural villages. For those who prefer a winter wonderland experience, the alpine region features mountaintops that stay cold year-round, allowing for snowy races even when the rest of the map is in the heat of summer. This variety is backed by a returning dynamic seasons system that changes the world’s atmosphere, ambient sounds, and visual tone, highlighting Japan’s famous cherry blossoms in the spring and vivid autumn leaves in the fall.
The scale of this new world is reportedly the largest the franchise has ever seen. The Tokyo region alone is five times larger than any Forza city Playground Games has built before. This massive urban space is divided into several unique districts, ranging from neon-lit downtown areas and suburbs to industrial zones and busy docks. Beyond the city lights, players can explore iconic landmarks like Mount Fuji and regions spanning the Kantō, Chūbu, and Kansai areas.
To ensure the setting feels right, the developers hired cultural consultant Kyoko Yamashita to guide the game’s depiction of Japan. This attention to detail extends to the new “Estate” feature. While players can still buy houses to serve as fast-travel points, the “Valley Estate” offers a massive piece of land in a mountain valley where players have unrestricted building rights to construct their own custom environment. Additionally, the new “CoLab” tool expands on the previous EventLab, allowing friends to build custom tracks and events together anywhere on the map.
The way players experience the world is also getting a significant overhaul. Rather than starting as a racing icon, you begin your journey as a tourist. Beginners must show off their skills in the Horizon Invitational just to secure a spot in the festival, eventually earning wristbands to climb the ranks. This journey includes new Touge Battles—mountain races inspired by classic Japanese car culture—and “Collection Journals” to track progress.
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
Easy (5)Medium (7)Hard (10)
At launch, the game will feature over 550 vehicles, with a heavy emphasis on JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) classics. While this is a step up from the previous game’s launch count, it remains lower than the 750-plus roster seen in Forza Horizon 4. To make the experience more inclusive, there are new accessibility features like a Car Proximity Radar, American and British Sign Language support, and an AutoDrive mode for those who just want to soak in the views. Fans won’t have to wait long to hit the road, as the game is scheduled to launch on May 19, for Xbox Series X/S and PC, with a PlayStation 5 release for Forza Horizon 6 coming later in the year.
