Playground Games has officially detailed Forza Horizon 6 during its latest Developer_Direct presentation, confirming a May 19 release date and a new Japan-based open world. The upcoming entry introduces changes to progression, exploration, and social features while keeping the core Horizon gameplay intact.
Unlike previous titles, players begin the game as tourists rather than established racers. The story follows a character arriving in Japan with the ambition of one day taking part in the Horizon Festival. According to Design Director Torben Ellert, this approach is meant to reflect the feeling of arriving in an unfamiliar country and building progress over time. The setting of Forza Horizon 6 is inspired by Japan’s cities, countryside, and mountain regions. Playground Games has focused on capturing the atmosphere of these locations rather than recreating them at full scale.
Tokyo plays a central role, featuring dense urban streets, elevated highways, and landmarks such as Shibuya Crossing, Ginza Avenue, and Tokyo Tower. Surrounding areas include suburban neighborhoods, docklands filled with industrial structures, and rural mountain roads designed for high-speed driving. Each region is divided into clear districts, making them easy to recognize while driving. The studio says this structure helps maintain fast gameplay while still reflecting the character of each area.
Players are accompanied by two characters during their journey. Jordy represents a motorsport-focused perspective, while Mei, a Japanese car builder, offers local knowledge. Mei’s background influences both the story and several gameplay systems. Playground Games worked with cultural consultant Kyoko Yamashita to ensure the portrayal of Japan goes beyond visual references, with attention given to everyday environments and local traditions.
Alongside the returning Horizon Festival wristband system, Forza Horizon 6 adds a new Collection Journal. Inspired by Japan’s stamp-collecting culture, the Journal records landmarks, points of interest, and discoveries made across the map. Progress in the Journal contributes to overall advancement, encouraging exploration in addition to racing. Players can also customize entries with photos taken throughout the world.
The game includes eight unlockable player houses that act as garages, customization areas, and fast travel points. A new feature called The Estate expands this concept. The Estate is based on the idea of “Akiya,” abandoned properties found in rural Japan. Players can rebuild and customize this land using in-game credits earned from races, deliveries, and exploration. Structures can be added or removed freely, with credits refunded when items are deleted.
According to the developers, The Estate is intended to reflect a player’s progress and time spent in Japan. Forza Horizon 6 introduces Car Meets, inspired by informal Japanese car gatherings such as Daikoku. These locations function as social spaces rather than structured events. There are three permanent Car Meet locations: the Horizon Festival site, the Okuibuki area near the Alps, and Daikoku itself. Players can view other cars, download shared designs, and purchase vehicles directly from other players’ collections.
At launch, Forza Horizon 6 will include around 550 cars. Playground Games confirmed the 2025 GR GT Prototype and the 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser as the game’s cover vehicles.
The GR GT Prototype is featured during the game’s opening sequence, giving players an early look at high-performance driving before progression resets. The cover art draws from traditional Japanese ink painting styles, with Toyota involved to ensure accuracy.
Forza Horizon 6 launches on May 19 for Xbox Series X|S, PC, Xbox Cloud Gaming, Steam, and Game Pass Ultimate. Early Access for Premium Edition owners begins on May 15. A PlayStation 5 version is planned for release later in 2026.
