Forza Horizon 6 Tears Open Its Roads in Microsoft’s Latest Developer Direct

At today’s Developer Direct, Microsoft finally released more information about Forza Horizon 6. Playground Games handled the big reveal, and did they deliver. The showcase, which was jam-packed with new information, had fans buzzing with anticipation, as they promised to completely overhaul the open-world racing environment. How about the setting? Japan is a place of towering mountains, bustling cities, and boundless highways that want to be explored.

You take on the role of a wide-eyed tourist straight off the plane (the first destination being the Horizon Festival) and are paired with two friends: Jordy, a person whose life revolves around motorsports, and Mei, a local who knows the area and has a nice collection of automobiles. And what has changed here? Unlike previous entries, where you’d start in the UK or work your way up to the top in Mexico, this time you’re landing somewhere completely new and mapping it all out, street by street. The goal here was to express the excitement of exploring somewhere new. The Playgrounds team took the lead on this one, designing this new adventure with the assistance of cultural expert Kyoko Yamashita, who helped them get the nuance of Japan exactly right without reproducing every single block.

The map for Japan is massive, the largest the franchise has ever seen. Yes, it’s a seamless sprawl that incorporates genuine sites such as Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo Tower, and Ginko Avenue. Tokyo, in instance, is five times larger than any other city hub we have seen thus far. Consider neon-lit downtowns, crane-filled docklands, and all that jazz, interspersed with winding suburban streets lined with telephone lines and rural Alp passes. Did I mention how the weather changes with the seasons? Vertical shortcuts, hidden paths, and jumps keep the journey exciting, wild, and forgiving. They focused on recreating the sensation of every turn, the reveal of a vista, rather than getting bogged down in pixel-perfect copies.

Progression returns to the trusty wristbands, which you acquire by competing in races and challenges to advance through the ranks and unlock new bonuses. A new Collection Journal borrows from Japan’s stamp-rally tradition, allowing you to take photos of murals, landmarks, and other interesting places to fill up a personalized scrapbook that also functions as a progress tracker. Top players can earn their way onto Legend Island, a premium zone filled with rare events and music. Forza Edition cars return with some bold new flavor options, while a new R-class introduces track beasts at the top end.

Cars will launch with over 550 models, a mix of historical favorites and newbies just waiting to be discovered by aficionados, creating a treasure hunt for players to get excited about. The tough 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser and the 2025 Toyota GR GT Prototype receive top billing, serving as cover stars. They’ll start the game in the Alps, racing against a fast Shinkansen bullet train. Other notable characters include the 2025 Toyota GR GT Prototype, a cutting-edge machine that players can drive in the game’s first act, and the tough 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser. The engine sounds have also been seriously overhauled, with a considerably deeper rumbling. The tires now appear more worn out and realistic, and customizing your ride is even easier with additional options such as body kits, window coverings, Forza Aero bits, and vinyl that can withstand a little of dirt.

As you would expect from the Forza franchise, social places look better than ever. Car Meets have popped up in three fixed locations inspired by real-world Japanese gatherings such as Daikoku PA and Okuibuki, allowing you to cruise up, look out cars, get some custom paint, or buy a ride altogether. The houses in the game are now quick travel stations where you may park your car and invite people over. The Estate is a true show stopper, with a simulated Akiya valley that you can claim and customize with the credits you earn. You can create tracks, hideouts, and even tofu runs, and with shared choices that may be customized, you can share everything with friends. Horizon Collab allows you and your crew to construct together in real time, and it even generates drift races and time attacks in the open world on the fly.

Forza Horizon 6 will be available on May 19th on Xbox Series X|S, PC via Steam, and Xbox One, with Cloud and Game Pass Ultimate support from the start. PlayStation 5 will have to wait a little longer, but you can gain early access on May 15. Those who pre-order will be in for a treat come spring, as Japan will captivate you with its charm.