Forza Horizon 6 releases on May 19, 2026, for Xbox Series X|S and PC via the Microsoft Store and Steam. Playground Games develops the title under Xbox Game Studios, following 2021's Forza Horizon 5 set in Mexico. Premium Edition owners gain four days of early access beginning May 15, 2026. A PlayStation 5 version is confirmed for a later 2026 window. The game is included at launch on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
Microsoft unveiled the title on January 22, 2026, during the Xbox Developer Direct, releasing a gameplay trailer that confirmed Japan as the open-world setting, over 550 cars, and the Toyota GR GT 2025 Prototype as the cover vehicle. A Steam pop-up listing on January 14, 2026 first surfaced the May 19 date ahead of the official announcement.
Official Reveal Trailer
Forza Horizon 6 gameplay reveal — Xbox Developer Direct, January 22, 2026
Release Date and Early Access
Forza Horizon 6 launches globally on May 19, 2026. Premium Edition owners unlock the game on May 15, 2026, four days ahead of standard release. Pre-purchases are live on Steam now across three editions. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers play at no additional cost on the standard launch date.
Editions and Pricing
| Edition | Price (Steam) | Early Access | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Edition | $69.99 | — | Base game |
| Deluxe Edition | $99.99 | — | Base game + bonus car pack |
| Premium Edition | TBA (above $99.99) | May 15, 2026 | Base game + all add-ons + early access |
| Game Pass Ultimate | Included | May 19, 2026 | Standard access via subscription |
Platforms
Forza Horizon 6 launches simultaneously on Xbox Series X|S, PC via Microsoft Store, PC via Steam, and Xbox Cloud Gaming. A PlayStation 5 version is confirmed for a later date in 2026, making Forza Horizon 6 the first series entry to launch on PlayStation. Full cross-save progression is supported across Xbox and PC from day one.
Setting: Japan
Forza Horizon 6 is set in Japan, featuring a scaled open world spanning multiple biomes: urban Tokyo districts, highland roads, coastal routes, and the slopes of Mount Fuji. Playground Games describes Tokyo in the game as five times larger than Edinburgh from Forza Horizon 4, the largest city the series has rendered.
The studio describes the full map as the series' largest and most dense open world to date, with curated road networks designed around the diversity of Japanese driving culture — from mountain passes to expressway circuits.
| Biome / Area | Description | Confirmed |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo Urban District | 5× larger than Edinburgh (FH4) — highways, elevated expressways, dense streets | ✅ |
| Mount Fuji | Iconic peak with switchback mountain roads and highland passes | ✅ |
| Highland / Rural Roads | Winding touge-style roads through forested highlands | ✅ |
| Coastal Routes | Pacific coastline driving with seaside roads | ✅ |
Cars — 550+ at Launch
The launch roster exceeds 550 cars. The cover vehicle is the Toyota GR GT 2025 Prototype, a fictional near-future variant of Toyota's GR performance line designed exclusively for the game. Forza Edition cars — special variants with unique handling tuning and bonus traits — return from prior games.
Playground Games has not released the full car list ahead of May 19. Based on the reveal trailer, manufacturers confirmed to appear include Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Mazda, Subaru, and Mitsubishi alongside established European and American brands carried over from Forza Horizon 5's 500-car roster base.
Gameplay Features and Modes
Playground Games confirmed the following gameplay systems during the Xbox Developer Direct:
- Reworked career mode — returning wristband progression system from earlier Horizon entries, modernised with curated event series
- Car meets — open-world spontaneous meet events where players gather and show vehicles
- Solo and co-op campaign — full story campaign playable alone or with friends online; other players can visit your campaign world
- Forza Edition cars — returning special variants with unique handling profiles and bonus gameplay effects
- Cross-save — progress carries between Xbox and PC seamlessly
Announcement and Development Timeline
Early Development Confirmed
Playground Games job listings reference a new major Forza Horizon title in pre-production.
Steam Pop-Up Leak
A brief Steam listing goes live and is captured before removal — reveals the May 19 release date and Japan setting.
Official Xbox Developer Direct Reveal
Microsoft officially announces Forza Horizon 6 with a full gameplay overview trailer. Japan map, 550+ cars, Toyota GR GT cover vehicle all confirmed.
Pre-Purchase Opens on Steam
Standard ($69.99), Deluxe ($99.99), and Premium Editions go live for pre-purchase on Steam immediately following the reveal.
Premium Edition Early Access
Premium Edition owners receive four days of early access ahead of global launch.
Global Launch
Forza Horizon 6 releases worldwide on Xbox Series X|S, PC (Microsoft Store + Steam), and Xbox Cloud Gaming. Day-one on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
PlayStation 5 Version
A separate PS5 release confirmed by Microsoft for later in 2026.
Xbox Game Pass Day One
Forza Horizon 6 is included at launch in Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. Subscribers do not need to purchase the game. The Game Pass version provides the Standard Edition experience on the May 19 launch date. Early access on May 15 requires the Premium Edition purchase regardless of Game Pass membership.
Developer: Playground Games
Playground Games, based in Leamington Spa, United Kingdom, has developed every Forza Horizon entry since the series launched in 2012. The studio operates as part of Xbox Game Studios. Forza Horizon 6 follows Forza Horizon 5 (2021, Mexico) and marks a five-year gap between mainline entries — the longest in the franchise. Playground's site currently lists Forza Horizon 6 under 2026 upcoming titles with no further developer blog posts published as of March 2, 2026.
What Has Not Been Confirmed Yet
| Topic | Status |
|---|---|
| Full car list (all 550+) | Not released — expected closer to May 19 |
| Premium Edition exact price | Not disclosed — listed above Deluxe ($99.99) |
| PS5 exact release date | Confirmed for 2026, no date given |
| Expansion / DLC schedule | No details announced |
| Multiplayer modes beyond co-op campaign | Not detailed in reveal |
| Ray tracing / PC tech specs | Not released |