During the January 22 Xbox Developer Direct, Playground Games revealed Forza Horizon 6, an open-world racer launching on May 19, 2026, for Xbox Series X/S and PC. The game features a massive map in Japan and arrives day one on Game Pass, though early access requires an additional fee for subscribers. It will come to PlayStation 5 later in 2026.
On January 22, 2026, Xbox's Developer Direct showcased Forza Horizon 6, the latest entry in Playground Games' racing series. The game is set in Japan for the first time, boasting the franchise's largest map yet, which includes a Tokyo district five times larger than the main city in Forza Horizon 5. Distinct areas range from suburban outskirts to industrial docklands and iconic landmarks like Shibuya Crossing and Mount Fuji. The map evolves with seasonal changes in terrain, weather, and lighting to capture Japan's diverse landscapes.
Forza Horizon 6 launches on May 19, 2026, on Xbox Series X/S and PC, with day-one availability on Xbox Game Pass. The Premium Edition offers early access starting May 15, 2026. Pricing includes the standard edition at $69.99, Deluxe at $99.99, and Premium at $119.99. Game Pass subscribers can upgrade to the Premium Edition for $59.99, an increase from the $50 upgrade for Forza Horizon 5. Pre-ordering any edition grants an exclusive pre-tuned Ferrari J50. The cover features the 2025 Toyota GR GT Prototype and 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser, with over 550 cars available at launch, including new R-class for track-focused vehicles and Forza Edition cars with extreme modifications.
Gameplay begins as a tourist in the Horizon Festival Campaign, unlocking areas like Legend Island for unique challenges. New features include a multiplayer world creation tool, integrated car meets for sharing liveries, and cross-play across platforms. Accessibility options encompass high-contrast modes, autodrive, and multilingual voiceover support in languages like English, Japanese, and Korean.
As noted in Xbox Wire, "Forza Horizon 6’s sprawling, impressive map is separated into distinct districts, instantly recognizable as soon as you approach." The Premium Edition also includes an extra car pack compared to its predecessor. While the base game price rises to $70 from $60 in Forza Horizon 5, the structure maintains early access behind a paywall, diverging from Game Pass's original day-one promise for all first-party titles.
