Forza Horizon 6 Announced: The Horizon Festival Finally Heads to Japan

The Tokyo Game Show 2025 delivered plenty of surprises, but none landed with the same impact as the long-awaited reveal of Forza Horizon 6. After years of speculation, Playground Games confirmed that the next installment of the open-world racing festival will take place in Japan, with a release window set for 2026.

For fans, this wasn’t just another announcement—it was the fulfillment of a decade-long wish.

🚗 Why Japan Matters

Since the series debuted in 2012, players have begged for a Japanese setting. The country’s unique blend of urban neon skylines, mountain passes, coastal highways, and car culture has always felt like the perfect fit for Horizon’s festival of speed.

Cultural resonance: Japan is home to drifting, touge racing, and a deep reverence for automotive craftsmanship.
Visual diversity: From cherry blossom-lined roads to the shadow of Mount Fuji, the landscape offers natural variety for Horizon’s seasonal system.
Community demand: Japan has consistently ranked as the most requested location in fan polls since Forza Horizon 2.

Playground Games acknowledged this in their reveal, calling Japan “one of the most iconic and requested locations” in the franchise’s history.

The teaser shown at TGS 2025 was brief but symbolic. It opened with license plates and souvenirs from past Horizon locations—Colorado, Australia, Britain, Mexico—before cutting to a serene shot of Mount Fuji framed by cherry blossoms.

No gameplay was shown, but the message was clear: the Horizon Festival is finally coming to Japan.

What We Know So Far

Release Window: 2026, likely in the franchise’s traditional fall slot (September–November).
Platforms: Launching first on Xbox Series X|S and PC, with a PlayStation 5 version confirmed post-launch.
Game Pass: Available day one for subscribers.
Seasons Return: The dynamic seasonal system from Forza Horizon 4 and 5 is back, now with unique audio design per season.
Car Culture Focus: Developers teased deeper integration of Japan’s car scene, though no vehicle list has been revealed yet.

Perhaps the most surprising detail isn’t the setting—it’s the platform strategy. Forza Horizon 6 will eventually release on PlayStation 5, marking another step in Microsoft’s evolving approach to exclusivity.

This move reflects Xbox’s broader strategy:

Expanding reach beyond its own ecosystem.
Positioning Horizon as a cultural ambassador, not just a console seller.
Building goodwill in Japan, a historically difficult market for Xbox.

Why This Announcement Feels Different

The reveal of Forza Horizon 6 wasn’t just about cars and tracks. It was about trust, timing, and cultural respect.

After a five-year gap since Forza Horizon 5, the longest in series history, anticipation was at an all-time high.
The choice of Japan acknowledges the global community’s voice, showing that Playground Games listens.
By announcing at Tokyo Game Show, Xbox signaled its commitment to Japan not just as a setting, but as a market and cultural partner.

Forza Horizon 6 is more than a racing game announcement—it’s a cultural milestone. By bringing the Horizon Festival to Japan, Playground Games is honoring a fan request that has echoed for over a decade, while also positioning Xbox as a platform that celebrates global car culture.

The road to 2026 is long, but the destination is clear: Forza Horizon 6 is shaping up to be the most meaningful entry in the franchise yet.