Forza Horizon’s slot-machine style Wheelspins are a point of contention for some fans. At certain points, players spin a wheel to win a prize, from cosmetics to currency and free cars.
On the one hand, the frequency of these rewards gives you a dopamine rush. However, this can reduce the sense of progression, with high-performance cars often rewarded too easily and early in the game.
In a blog post detailing Forza Horizon 6’s new progression systems, Playground Games confirmed that Wheelspins will return, but they will only be obtainable after qualifying for the Horizon Festival.
In the sixth entry, you play as a tourist in Japan and must complete a series of qualifiers before you can enter the Horizon Festival. This contrasts with recent entries where you play as an established superstar.
Furthermore, Wheelspins will be “rebalanced” to “maintain the integrity of the progression at the heart” of the game.
Meanwhile, Super Wheelspins, which had a higher chance of rewarding supercars in previous games, will be “rarer to earn” and “more rewarding” when spinning. These changes will hopefully address one of the biggest criticisms of recent entries.
Forza Horizon 6’s progression systems detailed
According to Playground Games, Forza Horizon 6 will feature three progression paths, including the return of Wristbands from the original game. Unlike in Forza Horizon 5, earning Wristbands will be required to enter Horizon Festival races with higher car class restrictions.
Wristbands can be earned in special events such as Showcases and Horizon Rush obstacle challenges. There will be seven Wristbands to earn, with the final Gold Wristband unlocking Legend Island, which will feature additional events, including the longest Goliath race yet.
Stamps are another progression system, earned by collecting and customising cars, photographing murals, smashing mascots and discovering landmarks, among other activities. Inspired by Japan’s stamp collecting history, there are seven of these to collect, which unlock Barn Find hints and new homes to buy around the map.
Finally, the Horizon Play multiplayer suite, which features modes such as The Eliminator, Hide & Seek and Touge Showdown and Spec Racing, will have its own levelling system, with badges awarded for every 10 ranks up to 100.
Progression in Horizon Play will also carry over to the campaign, awarding Horizon Festival Points towards Wristbands alongside additional rewards.
Featuring over 550 cars at launch, Forza Horizon 6 launches on 19th May on PC and Xbox Series X|S, with early access starting on 15th May for Premium Edition owners. A PlayStation 5 version will also launch later this year, while returning players from previous games can claim free loyalty car rewards.
For more on Forza Horizon 6, check out our recent hands-on preview ahead of our full review coming soon.