Forza Horizon 6 Eyes May Launch, PS5 Release Confirmed for Later in 2026

Playground Games has officially announced that its highly anticipated open-world racing title, Forza Horizon 6, will launch on Xbox Series X|S and PC on May 19th, 2026, with a significant expansion to its audience as a PlayStation 5 version is confirmed to arrive later the same year. This marks a notable shift for the traditionally Xbox-centric franchise, bringing its acclaimed blend of expansive exploration and high-octane racing to a broader player base. The revelation came during the 2026 Developer Direct showcase, where new gameplay footage and key features were unveiled, confirming previous leaks and generating considerable excitement among racing game enthusiasts.

Japan Unveiled: The Largest Horizon Map Yet

The sixth installment of the Forza Horizon series transports players to the vibrant and diverse landscapes of Japan, a setting that developer Playground Games has long desired to explore. This iteration boasts the largest and most intricately designed map in the franchise’s history, promising unparalleled verticality and a dynamic interplay between rural and urban environments. Players will traverse not only the iconic mountain switchbacks and serene countrysides but also delve into the bustling heart of Tokyo.

Key locations highlighted during the Developer Direct showcase include the legendary C1 Loop, a famous ring-road often featured in Japanese car culture media, and the renowned Daikoku parking lot, a hub for car enthusiasts. The urban sprawl extends to extensive dockside areas, providing a rich tapestry of environments for high-speed chases and scenic drives. The game’s setting will also showcase the return of changing seasons, a beloved feature, with in-engine footage revealing stunning autumnal forests and streets adorned with cherry blossom petals that react dynamically to player vehicles, enhancing the immersive experience of Japan’s distinct beauty.

Revamped Progression and Enhanced Social Features

Addressing feedback from previous titles, Forza Horizon 6 reintroduces a more traditional progression system, allowing players to genuinely rise through the ranks to achieve the coveted status of a Horizon Superstar. Unlike Forza Horizon 5, where players began as Superstars, this new entry places the player character as a tourist in Japan, embarking on a journey to earn wristbands and gain access to the prestigious Horizon Festival, reminiscent of the first two games in the series.

While the path to stardom involves a gradual climb, an Initial Drive sequence will offer a tantalizing preview of the festival’s excitement, featuring the game’s cover car, Toyota’s new sports car, the GR GT. This sequence serves as an appetizer, giving players a taste of the thrills that await once they fully join the festival. The emphasis on earning one’s place is expected to provide a more rewarding sense of achievement and a clearer narrative arc for players.

Beyond the core racing experience, Forza Horizon 6 significantly upgrades its social and customization features. Car Meets are no longer passive parking spots; they are now interactive hubs where players can genuinely engage with one another. This enhanced functionality allows players to inspect other cars, download custom liveries created by the community, and even purchase a copy of a car directly from the meet, fostering a more dynamic and connected community experience.

Unprecedented Customization and Vehicle Variety

Customization reaches new heights in Forza Horizon 6. The game will launch with an impressive roster of over 550 cars, a substantial increase compared to the launch count of approximately 400 cars in Forza Horizon 5. This extensive selection ensures a wide array of vehicles to suit every racing style and preference, from classic muscle cars to cutting-edge supercars.

A significant improvement comes in the form of refreshed regular Forza aero kits, ensuring that customization options feel fresh and distinct from previous iterations. Additionally, certain cars will receive entirely new body kits, offering even more ways for players to personalize their rides. A highly requested feature, the ability to apply stickers to car windows, has also been implemented, extending the livery editor’s editable areas and allowing for even greater creative expression. The development team has also focused on balancing car performance across the board and introduced the R tier as the highest rating class, presumably surpassing the previous S2 tier, which indicates a refined approach to vehicle classification and competitive balance.

Player housing also receives a major overhaul. Instead of merely purchasing pre-designed homes, players can now fully customize their estates. This feature, akin to the creative tools found in the EventLabs system, allows players to add props and objects to their homes, truly making them their own. Furthermore, the EventLabs level editor itself has been upgraded to support cooperative play, enabling multiple players to work simultaneously on building custom maps and unique racing experiences, fostering community creativity and collaboration.

A Strategic Move to Expand Reach and Influence

The decision to bring Forza Horizon 6 to PlayStation 5, a platform traditionally outside the franchise’s ecosystem, represents a strategic move by Xbox and Playground Games to broaden the game’s appeal and market reach. While initially launching as an exclusive on Xbox Series X|S and PC (via Steam and Microsoft Store) on May 19th, the subsequent PS5 release later in 2026 positions the title to capture a significant portion of the console gaming market that may not own an Xbox. This multi-platform strategy could signal a new direction for some of Microsoft’s first-party titles, prioritizing wider accessibility and potentially boosting overall sales and player engagement for a marquee franchise. The move underscores a growing trend in the gaming industry where platform exclusivity is gradually giving way to strategies that maximize audience reach, especially for titles with broad appeal like Forza Horizon.