It’s official, and it’s the announcement millions of fans have been eagerly anticipating. The upcoming Forza Horizon 6 will be set in Japan. Revealed during the Tokyo Game Show, the announcement has put to rest years of rumors and speculation. The game is scheduled for release in 2026, initially on Xbox and PC, followed by a release on PS5.
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Japan: A Dream Come True for Fans
The setting of each new Forza Horizon installment is always a significant event. Following scenic landscapes in Colorado, Southern Europe, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Mexico, the Horizon festival is finally making its way to Japan, the country that has been most requested by the community since the series began. I won’t lie, this news gave me chills.
The first teaser, although brief, doesn’t show any gameplay but confirms the inclusion of iconic locations like Mount Fuji and the city of Tokyo, which, according to developers, will be the biggest and most densely packed city ever created in the series. The developers have also promised an even larger map than the already vast one featured in Forza Horizon 5.
Releasing First on Xbox, Then on PS5
Forza Horizon 6 is set to launch in 2026, with no further details available at this time. It will of course be available on Game Pass from day one.
Significantly, the game will initially launch exclusively on Xbox Series X|S and PC. A PlayStation 5 version is also in the works but will be released “following the initial launch.”
My Take
The choice of Japan as the playground for Forza Horizon 6 is thrilling news, and I am overly excited about it. It’s the perfect destination for the series, with its unique car culture, ideal winding mountain roads, and neon-lit cities. I bought an Xbox Series X primarily to play Forza, which for me is the equivalent of Mario Kart for car enthusiasts within the Microsoft ecosystem. This game alone justifies the console purchase.
It’s interesting to see that the new Mario Kart on Switch 2, with its open world, seems to have drawn inspiration from the Forza Horizon formula. Seeing the leader of the genre return with such a promising setting is an exciting prospect indeed. What about you, does the idea of Japan in Forza Horizon 6 give you any thrills too?