Latest look at Forza Horizon 6 highlights the title's massive shift into a fresh Japanese setting, with a map five times the size of previous entries and an all-new “tourist” campaign structure. The franchise continues its legacy as the gold standard for open-world racing, combining breathtaking scenery with an accessible arcade driving feel. Since its debut in 2012, it has taken players on a global tour, from the colorful streets of Mexico in the fifth installment to the historic hills of Great Britain in Forza Horizon 4. These games served as digital postcards, pushing the limits of console hardware and visual fidelity with the ForzaTech engine. Upcoming release Forza Horizon 6 faces high expectations after the massive success of its predecessor, which was the biggest launch in Xbox history and eventually reached an even wider audience on PlayStation 5.
Setting a new benchmark after such massive success is no small feat, but the developers at Playground Games seem to be banking on one of the most requested settings in Forza series history — Japan. The franchise is known for its massive maps and a “Horizon Festival” atmosphere that celebrates car culture in a festive, music-filled environment. Historically, players have started out as superstars or festival leaders, but the upcoming entry will shift that dynamic and require players to prove their worth before they can even join the main event. As the community looks toward the midpoint of 2026, the focus has completely shifted to how the team will handle its most ambitious and culturally significant project to date.
Forza Horizon 6 locks release date, skips PS5 at launch
Forza Horizon 6 has officially locked down a release date in Japan, and Playground Games has shared it along with a proper reveal of the game.
A visual tour of the Japanese wilderness
Xbox recently gave fans a visual treat by releasing a dedicated “Biomes Showcase” trailer that reconfirmed that the next festival will be held in Japan. The two-minute video provides a high-speed tour of the game's diverse landscape in 4K resolution at 60 frames per second. The footage highlights five distinct geographies that players will be able to traverse, including highlands, alpine regions, coastal roads, mountain ranges and vast plains.
Specifically, the trailer shows the power of the latest ForzaTech v Forza Horizon 6moving from tranquil beaches and dense forests to picturesque rural villages. For those who prefer a winter wonderland experience, the Alpine region offers mountaintops that stay cool year-round, allowing for snow racing even when the rest of the map is in hot summer. This variety is supported by a system of returning dynamic seasons that alters the world's atmosphere, ambient sounds and visual tone, highlighting Japan's famous cherry blossoms in the spring and vibrant fall foliage in the fall.
The scale of this new world is said to be the largest the franchise has ever seen. The Tokyo area alone is five times the size of any other Forza City Playground Games has previously built This massive urban space is divided into several unique neighborhoods, from neon-lit downtowns and suburbs to industrial zones and bustling docks. Beyond the city lights, players can explore iconic landmarks such as Mount Fuji and regions including the Kantō, Chūbu, and Kansai regions.
To make sure the setting looked right, the developers hired cultural consultant Kyoko Yamashita to manage the game's depiction of Japan. This attention to detail extends to the new 'Estate' feature. While players can still buy houses to serve as fast travel points, “Valley Estate” offers a huge plot of land in a mountain valley where players have unlimited rights to build their own environment. In addition, the new “CoLab” tool expands on the previous EventLab and allows friends to create their own tracks and events together anywhere on the map.
The way players experience the world is also undergoing a significant overhaul. Rather than a racing icon, you start your journey as a tourist. Beginners must showcase their skills in the Horizon Invitational just to secure a spot at the festival or earn bracelets to climb the ranks. The journey includes new Touge Battles – mountain races inspired by classic Japanese car culture – and “Collection Journals” to track your progress.
Arrange the covers in the correct US release order.
Start
Arrange the covers in the correct US release order.
Easy (5) Medium (7) Hard (10)
At launch, the game will feature over 550 vehicles with a heavy focus on JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) classics. While this is a step up from the previous game's launch count, it remains below the list of more than 750v Forza Horizon 4. To make the experience more inclusive, there are new accessibility features such as speed radar, American and British Sign Language support, and an AutoDrive mode for those who just want to soak in the views. Fans won't have to wait long to hit the road as the game is set to launch on May 19, for Xbox Series X/S and PC, with a PlayStation 5 release for Forza Horizon 6 they will come later in the year.
