Following a series of leaks, Forza Horizon 6 now has a confirmed 19th May 2026 release date, as Microsoft debuts Japanese gameplay.
Four months after the confirmation of Forza Horizon 6’s existence and Japanese location, the first gameplay has been showcased alongside a slew of important details.
Firstly, the release date. As predicted, this is 19th May 2026 for PC and Xbox Series X|S, with earlier access for those who pre-order the Premium Edition from 15th May. PlayStation 5 is also confirmed for later this year.
However, there’s also a lot more to dive into, which Traxion will cover across multiple articles in the coming days. For now, here are the headlines:
The gameplay showcase undoubtedly showcases Forza Horizon 6 in the best possible light, and in a word, it is spectacular.
From the cherry blossoms, to the tight mountain roads, the city streets and the snow walls. Every Japanese scenic touchpoint looks to be present and correct. Take somewhere inspired by Kyoto’s Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, for example. Or the concrete-lined highways which remind us of a) real life and b) Gran Turismo.
Tokyo is billed as the “biggest urban area yet” and “five-times larger than anything we’ve designed before [in the urban context], although so far there only seems to be one single shot of a narrow-ish side street, and the roads shown so far seem to be wide for such a dense location.
A Horizon hallmark, season change is a pivotal element, with snowy winters and orange autumns briefly showcased.
Lots of new Japanese cars
We’ll work through every car spotted in this inaugural showcase soon, but Horizon 6 will launch with 550 cars, new aero kits and tuning options, plus the ability to paint on windows in the livery editor.
That’s more than Forza Horizon 5’s initial roster, around 530, although that was dramatically increased with Festival Playlist and DLC additions. While there are notable fresh roster additions for 6, it would seem several models have also been removed compared to its predecessor – possibly hinting at returns during live service updates.
The Toyota GR GT is the cover car, alongside the latest generation of Toyota Land Cruiser (no, not the full-fat 300 model). But we also spotted the final iteration of the Nissan GT-R R35 Nismo, Nissan Z Nismo, FL5 Honda Civic Type R, the facelifted Toyota GR Yaris, a first-generation Honda Civic, the electric Honda e and a Honda City.
The class structure is said to have been re-balanced, with a new range-topping R Class.
Finally, extremely modified cars can be found and unlocked, parked on driveways around the map.
Customisable garages and even a SimCity element
Homes still exist, presumably purchasable across the map, but now each one has a customisable garage. You can present some of your collection, decorate the walls and invite friends online to see.
Horizon 5 added an EventLab system for creating custom race events and routes, using props. This technology seems to have been expanded on in Horizon 6, with ‘The Estate’.
A blank canvas valley, you can add buildings over time (and it must be unlocked). Once crafted, it is said to be ‘permanent’ and, again, can be visited by online friends.
Outside of this area, ‘Co-Lab’ allows EventLab-style creation anywhere and, as the name suggests, collaboratively online.
Is there more progression?
Good question – we’d like there to be, please.
The central spine of gameplay sounds like it has more thought put into it this time, at least. Of course, we’ll see with the fullness of time if that’s the case.
Certainly, you start out as a tourist in Japan, completing events to earn the right to the festival and then through wristbands – a returning mechanic from older Horizon titles. An Adventure journal looks to be filled as you explore and complete events.
Showcases (outlanding chase-style and pyrotechnic-filled challenges) return alongside Horizon Rush obstacle courses. Touge battle is another new event type, plus there will be connected car meets. Time attack events are dotted around the map, without a load-in process.
Working your way through and collecting a gold wristband, you then unlock ‘Legend Island’, which sounds like a DLC expansion, but is accessible via progression.
The base game will be priced at £59.99, with a £89.99 Deluxe Edition and a £109.99 / $119.99 Premium Edition.
As we say, there’s a lot more to digest here, so stay tuned for more about Forza Horizon 6.