The series finally heads to Japan
By Echo Apsey 6th February 2026
Credit: Microsoft
Forza Horizon 6 is set to expand and evolve the racing series after the incredibly successful Forza Horizon 5. But, what do we know about the next entry in the series so far?
- READ MORE: 2026 game release dates – every PS5, PS4, Xbox, PC, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2 release
Here is a rundown of all the details, the release date window, and when you can expect to hear more about the game.
‘Forza Horizon 6’ release date window
AdvertisementForza Horizon 6 is set to release on May 19, 2025, with early access for Premium Edition owners available from May 15, 2025.
Microsoft confirmed this during the 2026 Xbox Developer_Direct, with previous rumours suggesting it will release in the first half of 2026.
This is a change from the previous game, but Xbox has a stacked year coming up including Gears of War E-Day, Halo: Campaign Evolved, and Fable. So, it would make sense for Xbox to have a big game in the first half of the year, especially to boost their financials
‘Forza Horizon 6’ setting
Forza Horizon 6 is confirmed to be set in Japan, bringing the series to the country for the first time. It has been a long-requested setting for the series so it is great to see it finally come to fruition.
The game will feature the return of the seasons, and incorporates new city environments, major highways, and rural mountains to capture the many different locales found across Japan. This offers a wide variety of locations and driving experiences compared to what we have seen in the series before.
RecommendedThe game starts you off as a tourist in Japan, allowing you to unlock wristbands to explore new parts of the country, before making your way to Legend Island, an exclusive endgame style area.
Speaking to the Xbox Wire, Design Director, Torben Ellert said:
“It’s easy to think of an authentic space as a recreation of a place, but it’s less about that accuracy, and more about the feel of it.” “If you think about driving in Tokyo, for example, what does that look like? What are the things that make it feel like this place? You’d see it in the distance from the freeways, before passing through the suburbs, then suddenly you’re in downtown, surrounded by skyscrapers.”
“It’s about looking at roads, references, thinking about what you see in each place and how it feels when you turn a corner. You don’t recreate every corner – you recreate the experience of having something revealed when you get there.”
Advertisement“Filtered through the lens of being a Horizon game, which is a big open world with its consequence-free traversal, we had to find that balance between what it feels like to be there, but also the fun of a Horizon game where you can jump in a hypercar, absolutely spin it off a cliff and earn points for doing that.”
‘Forza Horizon 6’ Premium Edition
Forza Horizon 6 will have a Premium Edition, which can be bought, offering the aforementioned early access, as well as the following benefits:
- VIP Membership
- Welcome Pack
- Car Pack
- Time Attack Car Park
- Italian Passion Car Park (post-launch)
- 2 Expansions (post-launch)
Forza Horizon 6 is set to release in 2026. For even more on 2026’s biggest games, check out our rundown of key releases to check out.