The biggest announcement at Tokyo Game Show 2025 was undoubtedly Forza Horizon 6. The newest entry in the highly successful open-world racing franchise will arrive next year on PC and Xbox platforms, marking the series’ long-awaited debut in Japan.
Looking at past release patterns, previous Horizon titles traditionally launched between September and November. However, according to insider Nate the Hate, UK developer Playground Games may break this tradition and target a first-half 2026 release window.
Autumn has historically served the franchise well—Forza Horizon 5 surpassed 40 million players by July 2024, and after launching on PS5, it briefly outperformed some of Sony’s first-party titles in sales. But the market landscape in 2026 is unique: GTA VI, originally slated for May 26, has been delayed to November 19. Nearly all AAA studios (and many indie developers) are expected to avoid launching near its release window. Although Forza Horizon 6 is a completely different genre, Playground likely won’t want to take unnecessary risks. Of course, all of this depends on the game being completed on schedule.
If Forza Horizon 6 does arrive in the first half of 2026, it will come four and a half years after Horizon 5, making it the longest gap in the series’ history. Playground Games may also be juggling two major projects next year, as their other flagship title, Fable, has been delayed from 2025 to 2026 (or possibly 2027), and could release late next year if no further delays occur.
Currently Known Details Include:
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Map divided into three major regions: dense Tokyo metropolitan areas, coastal regions, and winding mountain roads. The focus shifts from pure scale to density and verticality, with Tokyo’s multilayered highways inspired by the Hot Wheels expansion in FH5.
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Track variety includes: narrow alleyways, multilayer expressways, mountain passes, and rice-field rural roads—blending Japanese street racing culture, touge drifting, and coastal high-speed runs.
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Campaign progression returns to the spirit of the first Horizon: players begin with slower cars and unlock higher-tier events gradually, instead of starting with top-class vehicles.
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A major expansion of Japanese vehicle representation: including kei cars and kei trucks, appearing both as drivable vehicles and ambient traffic.
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Open world designed to “wow players” thanks to engine upgrades and Japan’s natural scenery.
While only PC and Xbox Series X|S versions are confirmed for now, a PS5 release is considered almost inevitable given Horizon 5’s success. The only question is whether it will launch in late 2026 or sometime in 2027.