The Forza Horizon video games know easy methods to make an entrance, and Forza Horizon 6 is not any outlier.
Inside moments of my hands-on preview starting, the now-traditional intro sequence had me barrelling via the hills of breathtaking rural Japan within the sport’s newest cowl automotive – the 2025 GR GT Prototype – hovering previous iconic landmarks, rushing down the Japanese Alps, and openly skidding as much as a reside rocket launch. That is the Forza expertise the staff needs you to have – modern, superfast driving with an impeccable backdrop. After which, like some kind of petrol-fumed fever dream, the prologue is over and also you’re left to find this world for your self.
In Forza Horizon 6, you’re no circuit famous person, right here to rub shoulders with racing’s best. Not but, anyway. You’re a fan, a competition vacationer, visiting Japan on a whim with two good mates. The Horizon Competition is in full swing, however your invite for the Invitational isn’t even within the publish but. You’ll must qualify for the Invitational by proving your price.
For newcomers, this narrative makes absolute sense as a tutorial when you become familiar with how these fantastically designed automobiles deal with, their nuances, how they every reply to the surroundings, and what you’ll must be driving for every kind of exercise.
“Japan is such an thrilling, fascinating, intriguing location that many individuals have wished from [the Horizon] franchise for a very long time, that we’ve wished to do for a very long time,” Design Director Torben Ellert tells us in a brand new episode of the Official Xbox Podcast. “What would it not really feel like if the Competition was there? It wouldn’t dominate Japan, it will be a part of Japan, and with that we requested: ‘how will we give gamers permission to simply be in Japan?’ Nicely – tourism.”
One early sport race is a good, unpredictable zip via Tokyo’s city district that allowed my modest first automotive – a 30-year-old Toyota Cecilia GT-4 – to shine (actually) via the dense, neon-soaked hotspots of Ginko Avenue and Shibuya Crossing. One other race is a cross-country affair stuffed with tough terrain and water, and your starter off-roader, a ’70s GMC Jimmy, is the proper accompaniment for these tumultuous routes.
However what makes Forza Horizon 6 really feel extremely particular is how seamless and welcoming this tackle Japan is. When you’re via a brief part of introduction, the world is all yours. The marketing campaign is there to information you thru the ranks and races on the coronary heart of the sport. Your automotive’s built-in AI information is there to supply course in the event you really feel genuinely caught. There’s a “golden path” so that you can take – however there’s no must take it at something apart from your individual tempo. For probably the most half, the aim is solely: Discover.
And that feels just like the true innovation on the coronary heart of Forza Horizon 6 – greater than ever earlier than, the sport duties you with discovering what you need to do subsequent, quite than merely heading from icon to icon on the map. It’s a philosophy that suffuses the sport – there’s all the time one other race within the Competition ‘marketing campaign’ to finish, however there’s an equal sense that in the event you simply take a distinct flip, you might uncover one thing for your self.
The clearest trace to that change comes from the map itself – for the primary time, a Horizon sport has a “fog of battle”, with the map unveiling as you journey via it. It provides you an actual sense of your journey via the sport at a look, to not point out makes every new icon really feel like a discovery quite than one thing you merely pointed your GPS at.
“This new system is designed to inform you the place you have got been and what you have got seen in a extremely legible means,” Ellert explains. “We have now this rule with all the Uncover Japan content material the place in the event you discover it, you’ll be able to play it.”
“In the end, freedom is a core design pillar for us – we’ve actually tried to not pressure you to go and do a selected factor, however as a substitute, tempt you into going and doing them.”
Throughout my preview time, these discoveries included Time Assaults, which allow you to set a greatest time on a selected lap round a route. In the meantime, Drag Races are there for that insatiable urge to simply go actually, actually quick, with out having to fret about arbitrary nonsense like steering or corners. Each of those actions include the added bonus of drawing from the broader participant pool, and your folks checklist, to behave like uneven multiplayer – these tracks can be stuffed with ghost vehicles from actual gamers, and billboards displaying greatest occasions will continuously beckon you to attempt to beat their scores.
What made that have even richer was the brand new Aftermarket Automobiles function. As you journey via the world, now you can discover time-limited alternatives to purchase new vehicles at cheaper-than-normal costs. For me, that was stumbling upon a black Dodge SRT Demon, parked proper subsequent to a Drag Race spot, and I luckily had sufficient credit on-hand to buy it straight away. The banged-up Toyota I dropped at the Drag Race? Relegated to the storage. The Dodge? Instantly in my arms, able to take for a spin.
In response to Ellert, the Aftermarket Automobiles function is knowledgeable by the will to place fascinating vehicles which can be related to your gameplay expertise proper in entrance of you when you’re exploring, if that’s your most well-liked factor to do: “It’s a refined suggestion of ‘hey, do this automotive out, take this automotive to this occasion’ – and it’s my hope that extra individuals will expertise these great machines by us putting them within the open world, and making them cheaper to buy.”
To push that must discover even additional, every space of Horizon’s Japan has a sequence of collectible mascots dotted round areas, which grant a small reward when collected. A few of them are set out on the facet of the highway, simply spottable as you go, and a few are tucked away, goading you to nosey down an as-yet unexplored path.
It’s a step ahead for the Horizon sequence so as to add actions that make exploration really feel not simply viable, however thrilling. There’s all the time a motive to veer off target and take a highway you’ve by no means been down, poke round a suburb or a forest, or just simply cease to take a look at the sun-soaked horizon in entrance of you and simply… drive in direction of it, as a result of you’ll be able to.
It’s the interconnectivity of all of those actions that make Forza Horizon 6 really feel so magically immersive this time round. Each aim, side-mission or collectible merchandise is true there on the highway with you – whether or not it’s selecting up a mascot, testing your automotive’s paces at a Time Assault cease, or difficult a passing participant’s Drivatar to a fast battle.
These options lengthen means past what we noticed within the preview too – the Journal is one other recent addition to Forza Horizon 6 that provides one other layer of intrigue to the world round you. With the Journal, you’ll be able to acquire pictures of iconic landmarks and hotspots, to create your individual personalised account of your journey in Japan.
The personalization will also be felt inside Horizon 6’s storage customization choices – which we bought a small glimpse of at Mei’s home – your first “base” within the sport. Every dwelling you buy from there on out comes with its personal storage you can design nevertheless you want – deck it out with furnishings, floodlights, odd objects, or depart the vehicles to be the star of the present. It’s solely as much as you – your journey, your area.
It’s, as Ellert places it, about “giving gamers company over the place the place they maintain their vehicles.” You’ll be able to construct one thing grounded, sensible and gritty, like a storage, or one thing wildly ephemeral like a secret lair or a dinosaur jungle, – or no matter else you’ll be able to consider.
“That simply felt in-line with what we noticed gamers doing, and we all know that having company over the world, and with the ability to earn and construct one thing that’s yours, is a extremely enjoyable and compelling factor.”
With extra causes to easily hop into your chosen automotive and drive – not simply since you’re making an attempt to win races or climb Competition ranks – Forza Horizon 6 faucets into greater than only a love of driving competitively. It’s obsessed with exploration in a means we’ve by no means seen inside a Horizon sport – it invitations you to discover the world, unlock the map, take your favourite automobiles out for a spin since you really feel prefer it, as a result of there’s something on the market on provide, one thing to find. Your vehicles aren’t only a device for victory and prowess, they turn into your accomplice on this mesmerizing journey. And with a panoramic surroundings like ray-traced Japan, it’s extremely onerous to refuse.
Forza Horizon 6 launches Might 19, 2026, and can be out there on Xbox Sequence X|S, Xbox on PC and Xbox Cloud as an Xbox Play Wherever title, and playable day one with Xbox Recreation Cross.
Try the complete interview with Forza Horizon 6 Design Director Torben Ellert and Artwork Director Don Arceta within the newest episode of the Official Xbox Podcast, linked above.
Forza Horizon 6
Xbox Recreation Studios
Pre-order Forza Horizon 6 now and get a pre-tuned and unique Ferrari J50 in-game!
Uncover the breathtaking landscapes of Japan in over 550 real-world vehicles and turn into a racing Legend on the Horizon Competition. Begin your journey as a vacationer and discover a world stuffed with hit music and Japanese tradition. Construct a Valley Property, purchase awe-inspiring properties, and show your prized automotive assortment in absolutely Customizable Garages. Cruise the roads with your folks and be part of Automotive Meets round Japan, unleash your creativeness with EventLab and construct collectively in Horizon CoLab.*
Your journey to a Horizon Legend begins now – Japan Awaits!
EXPERIENCE TOKYO, HORIZON’S LARGEST EVER CITY
Welcome to Japan, a spot the place the gorgeous contrasts of rural and concrete come collectively as you uncover the secrets and techniques hidden inside Horizon’s most dense map but, stuffed with verticality, various biomes and spectacular driving experiences. Cruise the suburbs and iconic downtown streets or problem your self within the docks and industrial districts of Tokyo Metropolis, the most important ever city space in a Forza Horizon sport, and the house for automotive lovers.
FEEL IMMERSED IN JAPANESE CAR CULTURE
Drive over 550 real-world vehicles, together with some a lot beloved and fan favourite JDM classics, that includes cutting-edge engine audio and up to date steering animations with as much as 540 levels of wheel rotation. As you discover Japan, acquire particular Forza Version vehicles fitted with excessive modifications and discover uncommon Aftermarket Automobiles to check drive and purchase. Your path to creating a reputation for your self will see you meet the Legends of the Horizon Competition, take part in Touge Battles, and expertise genuine tales rooted in Japan’s legendary automotive tradition.
RACE AND DISCOVER IN JAPAN
In Forza Horizon 6, you’ll discover an enormous marketing campaign of discovery and Competition racing, playable solo and in co-op with your folks.* You’ll begin as a vacationer and should show you’ve bought what it takes to affix the Horizon Competition as a rookie driver, all when you Uncover Japan and full your Assortment Journal. Qualify for the Competition within the Horizon Invitational, then rise via the ranks in progressively sooner vehicles and earn new Wristbands to turn into a Horizon Legend. Your newfound standing will grant you entry to Legend Island, an unique area reserved for the best drivers.
MAKE THE WHOLE WORLD YOURS
Your journey will see you buy attractive properties in Japan, every with customizable garages – permitting you to create the perfect areas to showcase your automotive assortment, or you’ll be able to obtain layouts shared on-line by the group. Unlock the Property, a mountain valley the place you’ll be able to construct freely within the open world, creating practically something you’ll be able to think about. And on your favourite vehicles, these may be upgraded with physique kits and new Forza Aero choices, in addition to the power to color customized liveries on home windows.
JOIN THE COMMUNITY IN MULTIPLAYER
This Competition is all the time higher with your folks.* Seamlessly take part in Time Assault Circuits and Drag Meets or exhibit your personalized vehicles at Automotive Meets. Earn new co-op LINK abilities with different gamers, compete in Spec Racing Championships, or soar into the Horizon Multiplayer modes you understand and love together with The Eliminator and nailbiting Cover & Search.
BUILD TOGETHER, ANYWHERE IN JAPAN
Create with unprecedented freedom wherever in Japan as you construct customized occasions with your folks in CoLab, the upgraded EventLab toolset – now that includes multiplayer assist* and the power to construct actually wherever on this planet. Share your masterpieces for everybody to play and uncover an all the time evolving catalog of thrilling new content material created by the group.
THE FESTIVAL FOR EVERY DRIVER
Hit the open highway in our most approachable Horizon sport but. Our customization choices embrace Granular Excessive Distinction Mode, Automotive Proximity Radar, American and British Signal Language, and AutoDrive, permitting gamers to expertise the gorgeous vehicles, hit music and spectacular areas of the Horizon Competition.
Uncover your Legend, and Discover the Contrasts and Tradition of Japan.
*On-line console multiplayer requires a Recreation Cross subscription that features on-line multiplayer, bought individually.
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