Forza Horizon 6 is almost here, and it’s headed somewhere the series has never been before: Japan. Launching May 19 on Xbox Series X|S and PC – with a PlayStation 5 version to follow later in 2026 – the latest entry in Playground Games’ open-world racing franchise looks set to be the biggest Horizon yet, with what developers are calling the largest and most dense map in the series’ history.
A First for the Franchise
The Horizon series has taken players to Colorado, southern Europe, Australia, the UK, Mexico, and beyond – but Japan has always been conspicuously absent, despite being one of the most beloved settings in racing game history. Forza Horizon 6 finally corrects that. The map encompasses a sweeping variety of Japanese environments: dense urban cityscapes lit up at night, mountain passes through cherry blossom forests, iconic rural roads, and a view of Mount Fuji that looks genuinely stunning based on the promotional material.
According to Playground Games, the Japan map is not only the largest in Horizon history but the most densely packed – meaning the space between interesting things to see and do should be tighter than ever. For fans of the series, that’s a promising sign.
When Can You Play?
Standard and Deluxe Edition players can jump in on May 19. If you’ve picked up the Premium Edition, early access begins May 15 – four days ahead of the main launch. The game will also be available on day one through Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass, making it one of the strongest Game Pass additions of the year so far.
A PS5 version has been confirmed but doesn’t yet have a release date – Playground Games has said it will arrive “later in 2026.”
Over 550 Cars at Launch
The car roster for Horizon 6 is shaping up to be massive, with over 550 real-world vehicles confirmed at launch. The Horizon series has always excelled at finding the right balance between accessible fun and car enthusiast credibility, and Japan as a setting opens up a natural slate of JDM legends to include alongside the expected European supercars and American muscle.
You can pre-purchase Forza Horizon 6 now on Steam or through the Xbox store ahead of the May 19 release. For more details on the Japan setting, the campaign, and everything else confirmed so far, check out the official Forza Horizon 6 site.
