Forza Horizon 6 set for May 19 release on Xbox with PS5 launch set for 2026
Forza Horizon 6 is coming in May. Here's our first look at the gameplay for the new Japan-based racing game from Microsoft.
Microsoft has revealed the first gameplay preview for Forza Horizon 6 and announced the Japan-centric racing game will be available on May 19 for Xbox Series X/S.
During the Xbox Direct Developer showcase on January 22, developers Playground Games and Turn 10 Studios offered the first proper at the eagerly awaited title that encourages drivers to ‘explore Japanese car culture’.
The co-developers announced the progression mechanics for the game, with drivers beginning in qualifying events before they’re able to join the Horizon festival. That means you’ll get to unlock cooler cars like the 2025 GR GT Prototype and Toyota Land Cruiser. There are 500 cars in total, and that’s from launch.
It’s also the biggest game in the Horizon series yet. The city of Toyko, for example, is five-times larger than any other cityscape in franchise history. Just like in real life, the city is split into different districts.
“The combination of enormous verticality, glass, neon signs, adverts for all manners of things, with Tokyo we’ve created this ultra-high-density space unlike anything we’ve made before,” design director Torben Ellert says. “It’s the most visually, radically different space we’ve ever built for a Horizon game.”
The developers say the landscape also changes with the seasons, so during the spring time you’ll see the iconic cherry blossom petals fleeing beneath your tires. There’s also a new Estate feature, where you’ll be able to store your cars, while car meets where you’ll be able to showcase your favourite ride with other gamers.
The game is available to pre-order for today and it’ll be available on Game Pass Ultimate immediately for PC and Xbox gamers. PS5 users can expect the game later in 2026, Microsoft has confirmed.
Elsewhere at Developer Direct, Microsoft revealed new details about the Fable reboot, coming in August 2026, and Kiln, coming this spring. You can watch the whole event below.
Chris Smith
