The teaser didn’t give much away, just enough vroom to spark the hype.
Playground Games has finally lifted the curtain on the long-awaited Forza Horizon 6, confirming that the next entry in the series will be set in Japan, the most-requested location from the community to date. Revealed during Tokyo Game Show 2025, the announcement put to rest years of speculation among fans eager to see the open-world racer head east.
Forza Horizon 6 heads to Japan
The reveal trailer highlighted sweeping landscapes, neon-lit cities, and winding mountain roads, a nod to Japan’s rich driving culture. Players will be able to speed through iconic settings ranging from dense urban districts to rural villages, all designed to bring the country’s varied environments to life.
According to Don Arceta, Forza Horizon’s art director, Japan had been at the top of the studio’s wishlist for years. “It’s something we’ve wanted to do for a long time,” Arceta explained. “It’s a beautiful country, it has a diverse set of environments, it has amazing driving roads, and it has car culture that has influenced the world.”
Playground Games stressed that authenticity was a driving factor behind choosing Japan. To ensure accuracy, the studio collaborated with local experts and conducted extensive research trips across the country. This included everything from studying architecture to capturing the atmosphere of regional festivals.
Kyoko Yamashita, cultural consultant on the project, emphasised the importance of depicting Japan with respect. “It’s not just about the landmarks,” she noted. “It’s about the spirit of the place, the way communities come together, the details that make each area feel alive.”
Dynamic seasonal changes and Japan's car culture will be highlighted
Like its predecessor, Forza Horizon 6 will feature dynamic seasonal changes, with players experiencing everything from spring blossoms in Kyoto to snowy mountain passes in Hokkaido. Playground Games confirmed that these transitions will continue to influence handling and strategy on the road.
Japanese car culture is also front and centre, with the return of drift events and nods to the country’s legendary street racing scene. The trailer teased a variety of homegrown vehicles alongside international manufacturers, offering one of the broadest car selections in the series to date.
What’s next for Forza Horizon 6
The Tokyo Game Show reveal was only a first glimpse, with Playground Games holding back much of what’s in store. Fans won’t have to wait too long for a deeper look, as Arceta confirmed that a proper showcase is planned for early 2026. Until then, the studio is encouraging players to follow Forza’s official channels for upcoming updates.
Forza Horizon 6 is scheduled to release in 2026, launching first on Xbox Series X|S and PC with day-one availability on Xbox Game Pass. In a notable shift for the franchise, Playground Games and Turn 10 Studios also confirmed that the game will be heading to PlayStation 5 after its initial release, expanding its reach to a wider audience.
Players can already add the game to their wishlists on Xbox and Steam, with more concrete details on gameplay and new features expected to surface early next year.
For everything announced at the Xbox TGS broadcast, click here.
