What to know
- Forza Horizon 6 launches on May 19, 2026, with Premium Edition early access beginning May 15.
- The game is set in Japan and introduces the franchise’s biggest map yet.
- Standard, Deluxe, and Premium editions are confirmed across Xbox, PC, Steam, and later PS5.
- New additions include Horizon Rush events, Horizon Play progression, improved ray tracing, and Steam Deck support.
Forza Horizon 6 is officially launching on May 19, 2026, for Xbox Series X|S and PC. Players who purchase the Premium Edition can start playing four days earlier on May 15. Playground Games has also confirmed a PlayStation 5 version for later in 2026.
The new entry takes the Horizon Festival to Japan, featuring dense city environments inspired by Tokyo, mountain touge roads, countryside highways, docks, and iconic landmarks such as Shibuya Crossing and Tokyo Tower. Playground Games says this is the biggest and most detailed map in the series so far.
Release date and early access
| Edition | Release Date |
|---|---|
| Premium Edition | May 15, 2026 |
| Standard & Deluxe Editions | May 19, 2026 |
| PlayStation 5 Version | Later in 2026 |
Xbox and Steam players will unlock the game at local midnight in most regions.
Pricing and editions
| Edition | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Edition | $69.99 | Base game |
| Deluxe Edition | $99.99 | Base game, Car Pass, Welcome Pack |
| Premium Edition | $119.99 | Early access, expansions, VIP, Car Pass, Welcome Pack |
The game is also launching day one on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
PC requirements
Official minimum and recommended PC requirements have started appearing through publisher and partner previews, with the game targeting modern SSD-based systems and ray tracing support on higher-end hardware. The install size is reportedly around 155GB.
| Spec | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10/11 64-bit | Windows 11 64-bit |
| CPU | Ryzen 5 / Intel Core i5 class | Ryzen 7 / Intel Core i7 class |
| GPU | RTX 2060 / RX 6600 | RTX 4070 / RX 7800 XT |
| RAM | 16GB | 32GB |
| Storage | 155GB SSD | NVMe SSD |
The game also supports DLSS 4.5, ray-traced global illumination on PC, and handheld optimization for devices such as Steam Deck and Xbox ROG Ally.
New additions and gameplay changes
Several major gameplay additions are coming with this release.
Horizon Rush events
A new obstacle-course-focused event type called Horizon Rush introduces stunt-heavy challenges across docks, city zones, and industrial routes.
New progression system
The game introduces three progression paths: Wristbands, Stamps, and Horizon Play. These systems reward exploration, racing, multiplayer participation, and festival activities separately.
More than 550 cars
Playground Games has confirmed more than 550 cars at launch, including Japanese performance icons and new aftermarket customization options.
Enhanced visuals
The new ForzaTech upgrades include better reflections, improved lighting, advanced shaders for headlights and taillights, and expanded ray tracing support on PC.
Steam Deck verification
The game is officially Steam Deck Verified at launch, with optimizations for portable PC gaming hardware.
Platforms
| Platform | Status |
|---|---|
| Xbox Series X | S |
| PC (Steam & Microsoft Store) | Confirmed |
| Xbox Cloud Gaming | Confirmed |
| PlayStation 5 | Coming later in 2026 |
Should you buy it?
If you enjoyed the open-world structure of previous Horizon games, this entry appears to expand nearly every major system. Japan’s map design, deeper progression mechanics, upgraded visuals, and the return of festival-style progression make it one of Xbox’s biggest racing launches in years.
Players using Game Pass can access the full launch version without buying the Standard Edition, while Premium buyers get early access and future expansions included.
