Forza Horizon 6 – Latest News And Release Date

The Forza Horizon 6 release date extends past traditional cycles as the series prepares for a significant leap forward. Here’s what we know so far.

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TL;DR – Latest Updates

Microsoft CEO Phil Spencer confirms “the next Forza” at the Xbox Games Showcase (June 8, 2025)
Expected to be Forza Horizon 6, the new game will be released in 2026
The five-year development cycle breaks traditional Horizon release patterns
Likely to be Xbox Series X|S and PC exclusive with day-one Game Pass
Unlikely to be on PlayStation initially, despite FH5’s PS5 release
The home of drifting, Japan, remains the rumored location, backed by recent Playground Games hints
Fujimi Kaido’s recent revival sparks hopes for integration into the rumored Japanese touge sections
Direct competition confirmed from Lighthouse and Maverick Games, both led by ex-Forza Horizon leads
Rumors suggest FH6 could be the final Horizon title

Introduction

From the start, the Forza franchise has showcased the capabilities of the Xbox Consoles and their unique take on the racing genre.

Forza Motorsport focuses on a simulator(ish)-style racing experience, allowing enthusiasts to refine their skills on the track.

On the other hand, the Horizon series offers open-world freedom with an arcade-style vibe for those looking for a more relaxed and fun experience. It allows you to push nearly every vehicle imaginable to its limits across just about every terrain imaginable.

The news of Forza Horizon 4’s delisting on December 15, 2024, sparked speculation about the franchise’s future, with many wondering whether Playground Games is shifting its focus entirely to the upcoming Horizon 6.

Microsoft typically removes older Forza titles from sale as development on new entries ramps up. Historically, these moves signal the start of a new project.

Following this, the FH5 Ultimate Car Pack, which bundles together all previous DLC, was released in January 2025, suggesting Playground Games is wrapping up support for FH5.

This speculation intensified when Microsoft shocked the gaming world by announcing that Forza Horizon 5 will launch on PlayStation 5 in April 2025, marking the series’ first departure from Microsoft exclusivity.

Following Microsoft CEO Phil Spencer’s official announcement of ‘the next Forza’ at the Xbox Games Showcase (June 8, 2025), we now have confirmation that a new Forza game is targeting 2026, and it’s extremely likely to be Forza Horizon 6.

However, PlayStation fans might not want to get too excited just yet, as the new title will likely follow Microsoft’s strategy of launching exclusively on Xbox and PC before expanding to other platforms later.

Want something to play while you wait for the Horizon 6 release? Check out our exclusive free-to-play browser game, Drift Hunters MAX. Like Horizon, it features AI traffic, drift challenges, and competitive leaderboards!

Forza Horizon 6 Release Date

Many fans hoped for a confirmed Forza Horizon 6 release date at the 2024 Xbox Games Showcase, but unfortunately, it wasn’t even mentioned.

This disappointment made it look more likely than ever that FH6 would finally be fully revealed at the 2025 Xbox Games Showcase on June 8, 2025.

However, although the confirmation arrived, Microsoft CEO Phil Spencer only provided a vague hint at “the next Forza” during the showcase. This left more questions than answers, but it’s extremely likely to be Horizon 6.

here's Xbox chief Phil Spencer announcing Gears of War: E-Day for 2026, and in the same year "the next Forza" and a tease of a Halo CE remaster pic.twitter.com/tTueF3YQcR

— Tom Warren (@tomwarren) June 8, 2025

Given the past announcements, this means we may need to wait until the 2026 Xbox Games Showcase (yes, once again!) to learn more.

If they follow past Horizon release patterns, we can expect a full announcement here, followed by a release date of Q4 2026.

Rather than filling a gap in Microsoft’s 2025 lineup, this means both Fable and “the next Forza” are now targeting 2026, creating direct competition with the planned release of Grand Theft Auto VI.

Xbox Series X|S Forza Horizon 6 Release Date

Forza Horizon 6 is expected to release exclusively on Xbox Series X|S and PC, marking a departure from previous titles that also included last-gen consoles. The most likely date at this time is Fall 2026.

This focused development approach enables Playground Games to push the technical boundaries further and deliver more ambitious open-world environments without the constraints of older hardware.

Dropping Xbox One support lets developers maximize current-gen potential, eliminating FH5’s performance constraints.

Xbox One Forza Horizon 6 Release Date

Given the anticipated technical requirements, FH6 will likely exceed the capabilities of the Xbox One.

To avoid disappointment, fans will need to consider upgrading to a Series X|S console or ensure their PC meets the minimum requirements.

The growing adoption of Series X|S hardware means that Xbox One support is steadily declining. The aging console’s technical limitations make it increasingly challenging to deliver modern gaming experiences, especially for large, open-world environments.

PC Forza Horizon 6 Release Date

Forza Horizon 6 is expected to launch simultaneously on PC and Xbox Series X|S, in line with Microsoft’s platform strategy, which is looking more likely than ever to be Fall 2026.

PC players are expected to be able to enjoy the full Horizon 6 experience without owning an Xbox, complete with “Cross-play” and cross-save features for seamless platform switching.

While high-end PCs can potentially surpass the Xbox Series X’s performance, the significant cost difference makes console gaming an attractive option for most players.

Game Pass Release Date (Xbox Cloud Gaming)

Following Forza Horizon 5’s record-breaking Game Pass launch, the next entry is expected to be available on the Game Pass subscription service from day one.

Will Forza Horizon 6 Be On PS4/PS5?

While Microsoft recently released Forza Horizon 5 on PlayStation platforms, Forza Horizon 6 is likely to remain exclusive to Xbox and PC at launch. This aligns with Microsoft’s strategy of keeping flagship titles exclusive initially.

The PlayStation version of FH5 arrived in April 2025, around 3.5 years after its Xbox debut, a move that surprised many, given Microsoft’s previous stance on exclusivity.

If this is the case, Microsoft’s plan appears to be quite clever. They’re likely hoping to get PlayStation players hooked on Horizon 5 before tempting them into jumping to Xbox or Game Pass when FH6 launches exclusively.

Given the recent developments, future PlayStation releases might come sooner than expected. However, FH6 is expected to remain an Xbox and PC exclusive for at least the initial years after launch.

Forza Horizon 6 News

The 2024 Xbox Games Showcase left Horizon fans disappointed. Despite expecting fresh FH6 details, Playground Games focused on the Fable reboot without mentioning Forza Horizon 6.

However, following the recent delays for Fable 4 and GTA VI, it paved the way for perfect timing for a Forza Horizon 6 reveal at the 2025 event.

When it arrived, the 2025 Xbox Games Showcase, held on June 8, finally delivered news, but not the reveal fans had hoped for. Microsoft CEO Phil Spencer provided only a vague confirmation of “the next Forza,” targeting a 2026 release.

This means the gap between FH5 and FH6 will be the longest to date, aligning with Microsoft’s reported shift toward 4-6-year development cycles for AAA games rather than the 2-3-year cycles we’ve seen previously.

We’ve already seen this approach with Forza Motorsport, which finally arrived in October 2023 after being delayed multiple times. These extended timelines are becoming the new normal for Microsoft’s biggest franchises.

Past Forza Horizon release date cycles:

Forza Horizon – October 2012 (Announced May 2012)
Forza Horizon 2 – September 2014 (Announced May 2014)
Forza Horizon 3 – September 2016 (Announced June 2016)
Forza Horizon 4 – September 2018 (Announced June 2018)
Forza Horizon 5 – November 2021 (Announced June 2021)
Forza Horizon 6 – Expected Fall 2026

Forza Horizon 6 Location

In the Forza Horizon franchise, we’ve already been treated to the following locations:

Forza Horizon – Colorado, USA
Forza Horizon 2 – Southern France and Northern Italy
Forza Horizon 3 – Australia
Forza Horizon 4 – England and Scotland (U.K.)
Forza Horizon 5 – Mexico

Will Forza Horizon 6 Be Set In Japan?

The latest rumors and leaks about Horizon 6 suggest that the game will be set in the land of the rising sun. How great would that be?

While the Horizon Festival has given us some awesome locations, such as the USA, Europe, Australia, the U.K., and Mexico, Japan is the holy grail for us drift fanatics – it’s where our beloved sport was born and perfected.

Imagine shredding through the winding mountain passes of Hakone or Irohazaka, recreating those Initial D moments we’ve all dreamed about.

The closest we’ve got to a true touge experience in Forza is the legendary Fujimi Kaido track. Given that it was absent from the series for so long, fans had given up on it making a return.

However, in March 2025, much to the delight of the fans, Turn 10 Studios finally announced Fujimi’s return!

As you can imagine, this only added more fuel to the fire with the Japan speculations. If they’ve rebuilt Fujimi from the ground up, what else have they potentially been up to?!

Alongside the mountain roads, there’s also the potential for epic urban drifting in Tokyo’s neon-lit streets. We’d be in for a treat with legendary JDM manufacturers like Nissan, Toyota, and Honda calling Japan home.

It’s not just Fujimi that provides hints, either. Many JDM cars have recently been added to the FH5 lineup, constantly fueling rumors and speculation. We discuss this in depth in the ‘Expected Car List’ section below.

Until recently, Japan remained largely unexplored in major racing games despite its rich automotive culture.

While iconic tracks like Suzuka appear in F1 games, and Gran Turismo 7 features Suzuka and a fictional Tokyo Expressway, the country’s varied landscapes and urban environments are underrepresented.

This gap presents a unique opportunity for Forza Horizon 6 to showcase Japan’s varied terrain, from bustling cityscapes to tight, twisty touge mountain passes. However, things are quickly escalating on this front.

While the wait for FH6 continues, emerging drift games are stepping up to satisfy the demand for a Japan setting.

JDM: Japanese Drift Master offers over 250 kilometers of diverse Japanese roads across its fictional Guntama prefecture.

After initial delays, JDM arrived in May 2025, featuring an open-world map that allows drivers to explore tourist areas, traditional towns, and touge roads inspired by real Japanese locations.

Another offering is CarX Drift Racing 3, which allows you to drift vast areas, including the entire Ebisu Complex, and the legendary Kami Road returns. It will also be available on PC and console shortly, under a new name: CarX Drift Racing Online 2.

Another game from the same team, CarX Street, also offers players an awesome alternative open-world drifting experience.

However, this fan-made trailer gives you an idea of how Japan could look in FH6. It reminds us why we’re confident they’d be able to deliver the ultimate open-world Japan experience if they wanted to.

In case the rumors about Japan aren’t true, there’s always a chance that FH6 players get to travel to places such as:

Germany

Germany offers a European setting with a rich automotive heritage. Players could race through scenic landscapes featuring castles, autobahns, and the Black Forest.

The country’s varied terrain would provide excellent street racing and rally-style opportunities. Germany’s car culture, home to brands like Porsche, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz, would naturally fit the Horizon Festival theme.

Egypt

Egypt would offer a unique and visually striking environment for the series. The game could feature races around ancient pyramids, along the Nile River, and through bustling modern cities like Cairo.

The contrast between desert landscapes and lush river valleys would create unique driving experiences. Iconic landmarks could serve as spectacular backdrops for showcase events and challenges.

China

China’s vast and varied landscape would provide an expansive playground for Forza Horizon 6. Players could race along the Great Wall, through futuristic cityscapes like Shanghai, and across rural rice paddies.

The country’s varied geography, ranging from mountains to coastlines, offers a wide range of driving conditions. China’s growing car culture and mix of ancient and modern architecture would create a visually stunning and culturally rich setting for the Horizon Festival.

What The Fans Want To See In Forza Horizon 6

Despite a rough start following its initial launch, Forza Horizon 5 eventually won over the majority of fans.

The game remains very active today, largely thanks to the recent PlayStation release; however, there is a concerning lack of planned updates.

Mike Brown, the Creative Director of Forza Horizon 5, shocked the industry when he left Playground Games in 2023 to found Maverick Games. Several other veterans also left alongside him.

While many were initially disappointed by the news, it has left fans hopeful of a new direction for the new game.

A fresh start could be the perfect opportunity to provide more meaningful gameplay beyond simply accumulating points and collecting cars in your garage. This opens up many potentially exciting possibilities with a new story mode.

Many fans feel that carrying over the progress from Horizon 4 was convenient for FH5 gamers. However, it meant that the game lacked any real progression to work towards for the hardcore fans.

Rather than having everything handed on a plate, having to go back to the grind of experiencing the excitement of unlocking your favorite cars could make the game much more exciting.

New Features & Challenges

We’d love to see a proper progression system that starts with slower cars and improves race variety to enhance the gameplay experience. Maybe even licenses as we used to enjoy in the OG first-edition Gran Turismo games. (I guess we’re showing our age here!)

It’d also be great to see more race types seamlessly integrated into the map, offering a wider range of challenges and experiences. There’s also a desire for better-designed roads that create more engaging and natural racing environments, moving away from awkwardly placed races seen in previous titles.

Additionally, the idea of separate maps for different game modes, such as the Eliminator, has gained traction among fans. This approach could provide tailored experiences for specific game types, potentially offering more immersive and focused gameplay for each mode.

While Horizon 5 is undoubtedly a great game, we’re sure you’ll agree that the features and challenges lack the exciting feeling the previous Horizons had.

In-Game Content

Forza Horizon 6 fans hope for a larger, more diverse map offering various environments. Moving exclusively to next-gen consoles and high-end PCs would make it far easier for Playground Games to improve the map size substantially.

If we could explore the cities and the touge mountain roads of the Japanese countryside, it’d be a dream come true for many enthusiasts.

Another exciting addition could be an in-game airport, allowing players to “fly” to famous real-world circuits, as seen in Forza Motorsport. This would expand the game’s scope beyond a single location, offering more variety.

With an incredible display of evolution in AI since Forza Horizon 5’s release, we hope to see improvements across the board.

Graphical Enhancements

While this is pretty much a given, we’d rather see the team focus on the content and physics of the game. Sure, it’s always great to see shiny new visuals, but we all know that the appeal only lasts so long.

Fans hope for enhanced realism through full animation of car controls. This includes visible interactions with the horn, handbrake, clutch, and other vehicle components that have previously been missing, adding a new layer of immersion to the game.

Improved In-Game Customization

Many eagerly anticipate enhanced customization options, allowing them to truly personalize their vehicles with more in-depth customization, including a wider range of visual mods and body kits.

It would also be great to see improved rim customization, with the ability to upgrade individual wheels, potentially allowing for different front and rear rims, as seen on missile drift cars or pros running out of tires.

Another great feature would be aero options that are visually compatible with different car models, moving away from the boring one-size-fits-all approach of previous games.

A wildcard request would be hitching trailers or caravans to your ride. Imagine how awesome that would be while throwing it down sideways on the touge!

Will Horizon Festival Return for Horizon 6?

We will likely get some form of the Horizon Festival for the upcoming video game. After all, the festivals have been an integral part of the series for almost a decade now, and it will be a huge risk to drop it.

Thanks to the challenges in these events, we get more vehicles and ways to extend our gaming sessions. Inside Forza Horizon 6, we could have the same formula as Horizon 5. In other words, we will find new stuff monthly.

Forza Horizon 6 Expected Car List

The Forza Horizon 5 Car List didn’t disappoint. At the initial launch, it provided over 530 cars, and with the many updates that followed, the tally is now almost 900! We expect the same story with Horizon 6.

We hope that the new game can incorporate new models from Forza Motorsport. Ideally, the update will feature an expanded selection of unique and rare JDM drift and race cars to represent the local automotive culture.

Fans hope for a more varied lineup that focuses on different car brands rather than multiple variants of the same model and includes unique options like Kei cars and trucks.

For example, the quirky Toyota Hiace van has gone down fantastically well with Gran Turismo 7 fans in the recent update.

To address previous criticisms, the developers should also aim to retain popular cars from earlier series entries.

Recent additions to the Forza Horizon 5 car list have fans talking about the significantly higher number of new JDM cars than any other region.

There was also a huge Japanese car rim update from legendary manufacturers like 5Zigen, Advan, Enkei, and Gram Lights, significantly expanding the customization options, as many requested.

This focus on Japanese automotive culture suggests that Playground Games listens to fan requests. It also raises hopes that Forza Horizon 6 might feature an even more extensive selection of rare and iconic Japanese vehicles.

Unsurprisingly, this has added even more fuel to the fire, with them already screaming for Japan to be the Forza Horizon 6 location!

Here are some of the JDM cars we’ve seen added recently:

1991 Toyota Chaser GT Twin Turbo
1991 Toyota Sera
1992 Mitsubishi Galant VR-4
1993 Autozam AZ-1
1995 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution III GSR
1995 Toyota MR2 GT
1996 Subaru SVX
1997 Mitsubishi Montero
1997 Nissan Stagea RS Four V
1997 Toyota Soarer 2.5 GT-T
1998 Mitsubishi FTO GP Version R
2022 Subaru WRX
2023 Nissan Z

The most surprising recent minor DLC announcement is the ‘Nissan Retro Rides Car Pack,’ bringing the following cars, even some of the most die-hard Nissan fans wouldn’t be able to identify:

1987 Nissan Be-1
1991 Nissan Figaro
1989 Nissan Pao
1989 Nissan S-Cargo

These “Pike” cars certainly aren’t the typical JDM cars players would’ve requested.

Interestingly, Playground Games has previously used DLC car packs to hint at upcoming locations – British cars were added to FH3 before FH4 was set in the UK.

Could this be a sign that they’re laying the groundwork for the ‘everyday’ vehicles we’ll see scattered around Japan? It seems weird they’d bring four of them otherwise, as they aren’t the most sought-after cars they could’ve added!

While you wait for more info on Horizon 6, why not check out the fastest drag car in Forza Horizon 5 and practice your drag racing skills before the new game drops?

Is There A New Forza Horizon 6 Competitor?

Forza Horizon 6 faces competition from not one, but two studios founded by former leaders of the Forza Horizon team. Both Lighthouse Games and Maverick Games launched in 2022, each taking different approaches to challenging the franchise they helped create.

Lighthouse Games

Founded by Gavin Raeburn (co-founder of Playground Games), Lighthouse Games is developing a “disruptive” driving game explicitly designed to compete with Horizon.

Raeburn states, “That’s the game we have to beat” and emphasizes they’re not copying Horizon’s formula: “If I wanted to build Horizon 6, 7 and 8, I would have stayed at Playground”.

The studio employs 130 staff, including many from Playground Games and Codemasters, along with backing from Tencent.

Maverick Games

At the same time, Maverick Games, led by Mike Brown (the former creative director of Forza Horizon 5), is planning a “narrative-led, open-world driving game” to be published by Amazon Games.

Expected to arrive on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, the project also features lead writer Jamie Brittain (co-creator of the BAFTA-winning UK TV show, “Skins”) and more than 60 employees, including several senior Forza Horizon veterans.

Needless to say, Horizon will soon be facing the most competition it’s ever experienced, forcing Playground Games to prove itself against the very people who built the franchise.

With this, alongside the likes of CarX and JDM: Japanese Drift Master also diving into open-world drifting games, the future certainly looks exciting!

Forza Horizon 6 Release Date FAQs

This answers your questions about the upcoming newest addition to the Forza Horizon series and the FH6 release date.

Where will Forza Horizon 6 take place?

If the latest rumors are true, it sounds like the dream location for many Horizon enthusiasts may well be on the agenda: the land of the rising sun – Japan.

When is Forza Horizon 6 coming out?

Forza Horizon 6 is targeting a 2026 release, which would extend the series’ gap between entries to five years, the longest yet.

What is the Forza Horizon 6 location?

Currently, the strongest rumors for a Horizon 6 location point to the home of drifting – Japan. The twisty mountain roads make for the perfect street drifting location. However, Germany, Egypt, and China have all been suggested as potential alternatives.

Is there a Forza Horizon 7?

There are currently no plans for a Forza Horizon 7. There are also rumors that Forza Horizon 6 will be Playground Games’ last game in the series.

Is there a new Forza Motorsport?

Forza Motorsport was released on October 10, 2023, for Xbox Series X|S and PC, and continues to receive regular content updates. Forza Horizon 6 is set to be the next installment in the Forza series, and a new Forza Motorsport may follow after 2026.

Will Forza Horizon 6 be on Xbox One?

We don’t expect to see FH6 on Xbox One. Playground Games will fully utilize the Xbox Series X|S capabilities rather than being held back by last-gen limitations.

Photography credits

We thank the following entities for the use of their photography in this article:

Jamie Wynder
Chireece Gaming
Static 207
Static 207
Bhautik Joshi
Ericship 111
Pietro Donzelli