The Setting Fans Always Dreamed Of

Japan was chosen as the game's setting due to its popularity among fans, who frequently requested it. Playground Games felt that Forza Horizon 6 was the right time to accurately represent Japan, with art director Don Arceta noting the unique culture of the country and that it is a location full of contrast — with urban areas juxtaposed against mountainous roads and open fields. 

The team used time lapses of real Japanese skies, photogrammetry of trees and geology, scans of roads and buildings, and even captured the way fallen cherry blossoms respond to passing cars — all adapted for Horizon's exciting open-world gameplay. 

Tokyo: Five Times Bigger Than Anything Before It

The game's open world map is the franchise's largest ever, and the Tokyo City area is considered to be its most complex and intricate drivable space — five times larger than any other Horizon city. 

From the suburbs and iconic downtown streets to the docks and industrial zones, every road, corner, and shortcut has been crafted to be fun to drive and a delight to explore with friends. Players can take their favorite JDM cars on roads inspired by the C1 loop, Gingko Avenue, and mountain passes like Mt. Haruna and Bandai Azuma. 

Similar to Forza Horizon 4 and 5, the game features a dynamic weather system that reflects seasonal changes — from cherry blossoms blooming during Sakura season to dramatic snowy winters. 

From Tourist to Legend: A Fresh Campaign

In Forza Horizon 6, you start as a tourist and must prove you've got what it takes to join the Horizon Festival as a rookie driver. Qualify for the Festival in the Horizon Invitational, then rise through the ranks in progressively faster cars and earn new Wristbands to become a Horizon Legend.

The wristband progression system from the original Forza Horizon returns — players earn wristbands by completing races and events, unlocking better and faster cars along the way. Reaching the gold wristband grants access to Legend Island, a special area featuring unique challenges and exclusive races. 

550+ Cars, JDM Legends, and Two Cover Stars

The game will launch with over 550 real-world cars, including beloved and fan-favourite JDM classics, featuring cutting-edge engine audio and updated steering animations with up to 540 degrees of wheel rotation. 

The two cover cars are a statement of intent. The 2025 GR GT Prototype — a race-derived road car that combines motorsport performance with road-going excellence — makes its video game debut in Forza Horizon 6, alongside the 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser. 

As players explore the open world, they can join events such as car meets where vehicle customisations can be shared with others, street racing, and touge battles — experiences rooted deeply in Japan's legendary car culture. 

Build Your Dream Garage — and Your Own Estate

Players can store unlocked vehicles in one of eight garages which also serve as fast travel points. Additionally, players can unlock the Estate — a customisable mountainside property in rural Japan which can be decorated with various items and objects, allowing you to create ideal spaces to showcase your car collection. 

The Community Is Watching Closely

Not everything has been universally praised. When IGN published exclusive gameplay footage, the audience reaction was lukewarm — the main complaints being roads that are unrealistically wide and almost no traffic in sight. One commenter summed it up: this city is even more empty than my soul. For a metropolis of 14 million people, the depiction does feel a little odd. 

That said, Playground Games has stressed this is early footage, and the final experience promises a much richer world — with dynamic weather, seasonal changes, authentic cultural detail, and a soundtrack that includes exciting Japanese artists.

Early Access, Game Pass, and Platforms

Forza Horizon 6 comes to Xbox Series X/S and PC via the Microsoft Store and Steam on May 19, 2026, with Early Access for Premium Edition players starting four days earlier on May 15. 

Forza Horizon 6 will be included with Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass at launch — meaning millions of subscribers can play it on day one at no additional cost. Cloud Gaming support is also confirmed. 

As for PlayStation fans — Forza Horizon 6 is set to be a timed Xbox exclusive on console, with the PS5 version arriving post-launch later in 2026. 

Conclusion

Forza Horizon 6 is the game Playground Games was born to make — a love letter to Japan's legendary car culture, wrapped in the most expansive and technically stunning open world the series has ever produced. With 550+ cars, a Tokyo five times the size of any previous Horizon city, authentic seasonal beauty, and JDM dreams around every corner, May 19 cannot arrive soon enough.

The cherry blossoms are blooming. The engines are revving. Japan is waiting. 🇯🇵