Forza Horizon 6: Release Date, Japan Map, Gameplay, Trailer, and Much More!
Forza Horizon 6 takes the open-world racing formula to Japan, blending neon-drenched streets with winding mountain passes and seasonal shifts across a sprawling map. Playground Games unveiled the title at Tokyo Game Show 2025 with a teaser trailer that showcased Mount Fuji under cherry blossoms and glimpses of Tokyo's elevated highways. The game arrives in 2026 on Xbox Series X|S and PC through Game Pass from day one, with PlayStation 5 following later.
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| Credit: Microsoft |
Players explore a seamless world that captures Japan's cultural mix of ancient shrines, bustling arcades, and high-tech urban zones. Developers traveled onsite for research and brought in cultural consultant Kyoko Yamashita to ensure details like ambient sounds, summer wind bells or station chimes, feel genuine. This setup promises drifts through Tokyo, off-road runs near Fuji, and festival events amid sakura petals.
Announcement and Teaser Trailer Breakdown
Playground Games dropped the first look during the Xbox TGS broadcast on September 25, 2025. The cinematic trailer opens with a panoramic view of Mount Fuji, transitions to cherry blossom drives, and hints at cityscapes with elevated roads inspired by Forza Horizon 5's Hot Wheels expansion. Subtle nods to past games appear, like the series' signature festival vibe evolving into a Japanese legend-building journey.
Art director Don Arceta explained the choice: Japan topped fan wishlists for years, offering unique cars, music, and fashion that fit the Horizon spirit. The team stylized the map to distill the country's essence rather than copy real spots one-for-one, creating their largest and densest world yet.
Watch the official teaser from below for those sweeping drone shots and engine roars that set the tone.
Leaked Release Date: May 19, 2026 with Early Access
A pop-up in Forza Horizon 5 recently spilled details on Forza Horizon 6's launch. The standard edition hits May 19, 2026, while Premium Edition owners start four days early on May 15. This aligns with rumors circulating since the announcement, pointing to a spring rollout after the January gameplay reveal.
Xbox has not confirmed these dates officially, but the in-game notification matches patterns from past Forza launches. Expect full verification soon, likely tied to pre-orders opening post-Developer Direct.
Platforms, Game Pass, and PlayStation Timing
Forza Horizon 6 launches first on Xbox Series X|S and PC (Windows and Steam), optimized for Series X hardware with Play Anywhere support—buy once, play across console and PC. Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers jump in day one, including cloud streaming.
PlayStation 5 gets a port post-launch, developed alongside Turn 10 Studios, but no timeline yet beyond "later."
| Platform | Launch Window | Game Pass? |
|---|---|---|
| Xbox Series X | S | 2026 (May leak) |
| PC (Steam/Windows) | 2026 (May leak) | Day One |
| Cloud Gaming | 2026 (May leak) | Day One |
| PlayStation 5 | Post-Launch | No |
Japan's Open World: Map Size, Locations, and Seasons
The map spans over 120 square kilometers, bigger and fuller than Forza Horizon 5's Mexico. It covers Honshu, Hokkaido, Shikoku, Kyushu, linked by ferries, with Tokyo as the star—neon towers, elevated expressways, and dense neighborhoods packed with shrines and workshops.
Key spots include Mount Fuji's snowy flanks for rally stages, rural touge roads for drifts, and urban circuits. Seasons cycle dynamically: summer heat warps tarmac, winter snow blankets passes, autumn leaves crunch under tires, and spring sakura storms petals across highways. These affect driving physics, audio, and events.
Tokyo stands out as the most layered city in Horizon history, blending chaos and calm for street races and pursuits.
Gameplay Deep Dive Incoming January 22
Xbox Developer Direct on January 22 at 10 a.m. PT brings the first extended gameplay footage. Playground Games promises a showcase of new features, Japan in action, and how seasons transform the world.
Expect core Horizon loops: festival progression, skill chains, player houses, and online convoys. Japan amps up drifting heritage with touge battles, kei car rallies, and JDM customization. Audio design ties in local flavors, from cicada chirps to city hums.
Car Roster: 550+ Vehicles with JDM Focus
Leaks point to over 550 real-world cars at launch, heavy on Japanese icons. Kei cars and delivery vans get the spotlight for compact agility on narrow streets, alongside precision sports like GT-Rs and Silvias for touge. Expect tuner deep dives, widebody kits, and stance builds reflecting Japan's mod scene.
Customization stays robust: engine swaps, liveries, and upgrades tailored to map challenges, like snow tires for Hokkaido.
Editions, DLC, and Pre-Order Perks
The standard edition covers the base game. Premium Edition bundles early access, VIP Membership (platinum perks, exclusive wheels), Car Pass (day-one DLC cars), Welcome Pack, Time Attack Car Pack, and two post-launch expansions.
Pre-order any edition for a tuned Ferrari J50. Italian Passion Car Pack and expansions arrive later.
| Edition | Price (Est.) | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Base | Core game, 2026 launch |
| Premium | Higher | +4-day early access (May 15), VIP, Car Pass, Packs, Expansions, Ferrari J50 |
How to Wishlist and Gear Up?
Follow these steps:
- Head to the Xbox Store or Steam page for Forza Horizon 6.
- Click "Add to Wishlist"—notifications hit when pre-orders go live.
- Grab Game Pass Ultimate if you lack it for instant access.
- Tune your wheel or controller setup; Series X supports full peripherals.
- Follow @ForzaHorizon and @PlaygroundGames for updates.
Just go and mark January 22 for the stream on Xbox's YouTube or Twitch. This Japan adventure pushes Horizon further with cultural depth and scale that rewards every drive.
