It’s a big day for Xbox fans, with Microsoft finally offering a closer look at some of its most anticipated titles, courtesy of its first Developer Direct of the year. And that began with a fresh peek at Forza Horizon 6, bringing word of a 19th May release date on PC and Xbox, with a PS5 launch coming later this year.
For this latest entry in the world-hopping racing series, developer Playground Games is shifting the action to Japan, with the studio calling Forza Horizon 6’s open-world map the “largest” it’s created for the series so far. It’s said to reflect the country’s diversity with areas both rural and urban, modern and traditional. It’s also described as being “full of verticality”, featuring roads inspired by the likes of C1 Loop, Gingko Avenue, and mountain passes including Mount Haruna and Bandai-Azuma.
It also features Forza Horizon’s “biggest urban area yet”, with Tokyo City said to be five times larger than anything seen in the series so far. It also includes multiple districts, each with their own identity. And as players explore the world, they’ll be able to collect cars, houses, landmarks, and mascots, all tracked in their Adventure Journal.
In terms of progression, players start Forza Horizon 6 as tourists who, after passing qualifiers, will slowly rise through the ranks by completing races in faster cars and unlocking new wristbands. In order to move up, they’ll need to participate in “spectacular” events, including classic showcase events and “thrilling” new Rush obstacles courses. And once they’ve finally unlocked their gold wristband, they’ll gain access to Legend Island, featuring exclusive events, tracks, and areas to explore.
Playground says Forza Horizon 6 will feature over 550 cars at launch – ranging from classic cars to the series’ latest cover vehicle, the GR GT – bringing new body kits, new Forza Aero, and the ability to paint liveries on windows. The studio also says it’s better balanced its roster across all performance classes, from D to the new R Class, which is designed for track-focused cars. There’s also talk of better vehicle audio and improvements to how cars are affected by the world – including new cosmetic tire wear.
Cars, once acquired, can be stored in Forza Horizon 6’s new customisable garages (available at every player house), which can be freely decorated and have space for multiple cars. This latest game also marks the debut of The Estate, a huge mountain valley expanse where players can freely build and decorate their own abode – which is permanent and visitable by friends.
Speaking of pals, players can now attend open-world car meets, where they’re able to show off cars and characters, download tunes and liveries, or buy copies of any car they see. And from here, they can set out to explore the world with others, playing street races or new nighttime Touge battles, which see players racing down mountain passes. Other new social events include Horizon Time Attack Circuits – accessed seamlessly as part of the world, with no loading or matchmaking.
And that’s almost everything announced so far, with Playground wrapping things with a few words on accessibility features, all of which will be carried over from previous games. That’s on top of a few new additions, including a customisable high-contrast mode, a proximity radar, and auto-drive for those wanting to sit back and soak up the sights without touching the wheel.
So to recap: Forza Horizon 6 launches 19th May on Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Game Pass, with a Playstation 5 release due later this year.
