Forza Horizon 6 Preview — Japan Finally Takes the Horizon Festival Forward
We went hands-on with Forza Horizon 6 on Xbox Series X ahead of its May 2026 launch. Here's what we think of the Japan open world, new handling model, 550+ cars, and seasonal gameplay changes.
Playground Games is bringing the Horizon Festival to Japan with Forza Horizon 6, one of Xbox’s most anticipated releases of 2026. Instead of waiting for launch, we went hands-on with an early preview build running on Xbox Series X, offering roughly an hour of gameplay and a first look at what the next evolution of the open-world racing series looks like.
While the preview only scratches the surface, it already highlights meaningful changes to handling, world design, and overall immersion.
The demo included the opening showcase race, three Horizon Story missions, and around ten activities such as TrailBlazers, speed traps, and danger zones. Progression stops shortly after completing a few races, effectively ending the structured portion of the demo.
However, players were free to cancel the objective flow and explore the map independently — which quickly became the most interesting part of the experience. Even with most content locked, the world already feels dense and rewarding to drive through.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The map is similar in size to Forza Horizon 5 but focuses on higher density, connected roads, and environmental variety.
- Seasonal changes return, significantly affecting visuals, driving conditions, and road grip — especially during rain.
- Handling receives major improvements, introducing more realistic weight transfer, brake behaviour, and traction loss.
- Over 500 cars are expected at launch, including a strong lineup of JDM icons alongside modern performance vehicles.
- New collectable Regional Mascots reward players with credits while adding personality inspired by Japanese culture.
The Familiar Horizon Formula Returns
At its core, the gameplay loop remains unchanged — and that is largely intentional. Players explore the open world, earn credits, purchase cars, upgrade and tune them, and gradually expand their collection.
More than 500 cars are expected at launch, with additional vehicles arriving through free updates and paid expansions over the game’s lifecycle. The structure will feel instantly recognisable to longtime Horizon players.
Japan Becomes the Series’ Most Requested Setting
Japan replaces Mexico as the festival’s new location, and while the overall map size feels comparable to Forza Horizon 5, the design philosophy is noticeably different. Rather than vast open deserts, the world emphasises density and variety.
Tight urban streets, winding mountain passes, countryside roads, and coastal highways are interconnected in a way that encourages continuous driving rather than fast travel. Seasonal changes return as well, transforming environments from cherry blossom-lined spring roads to snowy mountain routes, giving familiar locations a fresh identity throughout the year.
First Impressions of the Map
Even with most of the game locked during the preview, early impressions of the Japan setting are extremely positive. The map delivers a strong mix of urban and natural environments, from neon-lit city districts inspired by Tokyo to technical mountain roads built for drifting.
A large highway network loops around the world, connecting regions seamlessly and making long drives surprisingly engaging. Weather also plays a larger role in gameplay this time — rain significantly reduces traction, forcing more careful driving and making each condition feel distinct.
The result is a world that feels layered and alive, rewarding exploration even outside structured events.
Visuals and Technical Presentation
Built exclusively for modern hardware, Forza Horizon 6 benefits from improved photogrammetry, procedural terrain generation, and sharp 4K presentation on Xbox Series X|S and PC. Environmental detail is noticeably richer, with denser roadside assets and improved lighting helping the world feel more believable at speed.
As a current-gen-only release, the game avoids the compromises seen in previous cross-generation entries.
Cars, Variety, and Driving Feel
The game launches with approximately 550 vehicles, ranging from classic Japanese icons to modern performance cars. During the preview, vehicles such as the Nissan GT-R, Mazda MX-5, Dodge Demon, BMW M3 and M2 Drift Edition, and newer additions like the Honda E were available to test.
Each car feels distinct, with improved interior detail and more noticeable differences in handling characteristics compared to previous entries.
The biggest change in Forza Horizon 6 is its handling model. Updates to braking and suspension systems introduce more believable weight transfer and brake fade, making cars feel heavier and more grounded.
Compared to Forza Horizon 5, vehicles react more naturally, particularly in wet conditions where traction loss becomes a real factor. Drifting feels smoother and more predictable, while dry roads provide noticeably stronger grip.
A standout addition is the new 540-degree steering animation in cockpit view, which significantly improves immersion and makes interior driving far more convincing.
Regional Mascots Add Personality
A new collectible system introduces small destructible figures known as Regional Mascots scattered across the map.
Designed with Japan’s signature sense of cuteness, these mascots reinforce the setting's cultural identity while giving exploration an extra incentive.
Familiarity Still Remains
Despite the improvements, some elements feel largely unchanged. Tuning menus, upgrade systems, and several returning cars closely resemble previous entries. Challenge types and recurring features — including the returning train system — may feel overly familiar to long-time players.
Whether this familiarity feels comforting or repetitive will likely depend on how much new content appears in the full release.
Early Verdict
As expected from a preview build, a few technical issues were present. Players could occasionally clip into walls, and transmission settings sometimes switched unexpectedly between manual and automatic modes. These issues appear minor and are likely to be resolved before launch.
But based on this early hands-on session, Forza Horizon 6 shows strong potential. Improved handling, a highly requested Japan setting, and refined gameplay systems suggest a confident evolution rather than a radical reinvention.
With ongoing seasonal updates, weekly challenges, and post-launch car additions expected, the game appears positioned to maintain the long-term engagement the series is known for — while offering a more immersive driving experience than its predecessor.
Forza Horizon 6 launches on May 19, 2026, with Premium Edition owners gaining early access starting May 15. The game releases on PC via Windows and Steam alongside Xbox Series X|S, with a PlayStation version confirmed to arrive later in 2026. Notably, this entry is fully current-generation, meaning older consoles are no longer supported.
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