Forza Horizon 6 is officially heading to Japan this May, and it's coming to PS5 later.

Forza Horizon 6 will launch on May 19 for Xbox and PC, developer Playground Games announced during the Xbox Developer Direct broadcast. The game is set in Japan and, in a major shift for the franchise, will also come to PlayStation 5 later in 2026. A Premium Edition will grant players early access starting May 15.

New progression and gameplay

The announcement confirmed the previously leaked release date and revealed a new approach to progression. Instead of starting as a festival participant, players begin as tourists who must qualify for the Horizon Festival. Progression involves completing Showcases and obstacle courses to earn wristbands and climb the ranks.

New Touge race types, based on racing on narrow mountain courses, will be added to the game. The launch will feature more than 550 cars, with some rare aftermarket vehicles available for purchase directly from the game world. A new Car Meets feature will also allow players to show off their customized cars and buy versions of other players' vehicles.

Exploring Japan and The Estate

Playground Games is taking players to the highly-requested Japan setting. The game's Tokyo region is reportedly five times larger than any map the studio has created before, featuring multiple distinct districts. While players can still purchase houses as garages and fast travel points, a new feature called The Estate offers greater customisation.

The Estate is a large piece of land where players can build custom structures and tracks using in-game currency. “In practice, The Estate is a flat area of land where you can build anything you want – a mountain hideaway, a personalized track for friends – the only real constraint is that the items will cost in-game currency,” according to a description from Xbox.

A multiplatform future for Forza

Microsoft re-confirmed its plans to bring the franchise to more platforms. The company stated that Playground Games and Turn 10 Studios are working to bring Forza Horizon 6 to PlayStation 5 after its initial launch. The PS5 version is planned for release “later in 2026,” though a specific date was not provided. This marks a significant strategy change for one of Xbox's flagship exclusive series.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Forza Horizon 6 releasing?

Forza Horizon 6 is set to release on May 19 for Xbox and PC. A Premium Edition will offer early access starting May 15. The PlayStation 5 version is scheduled to launch later in 2026.

Where is Forza Horizon 6 set?

Forza Horizon 6 will take players to Japan for the first time in the series. The map includes a Tokyo region that is five times larger than anything Playground Games has created previously, according to the developer.

Will Forza Horizon 6 be available on PlayStation 5?

Yes. Microsoft confirmed that a PlayStation 5 version of Forza Horizon 6 is in development and will be released later in 2026, following its initial launch on Xbox consoles and PC.

What are the new gameplay features in Forza Horizon 6?

New features include starting as a tourist to qualify for the Horizon Festival, new Touge race types on mountain courses, a large customizable 'Estate' for building tracks, and a Car Meets feature for showing off and buying cars.