Japan Finally Gets the Horizon Treatment
Forza Horizon 6 is set in Japan — and Playground Games went all the way. From Tokyo’s elevated expressways to snowcapped alpine passes, the sixth entry in the franchise packs the largest, most vertical map the Horizon series has ever built. Tokyo City alone is five times bigger than any urban area in a previous Horizon game.
Developed by Playground Games and published by Xbox Game Studios, Forza Horizon 6 arrives on Xbox Series X|S and PC on May 19, 2026, with a PlayStation 5 release to follow later in the year. Premium Edition players get in four days early on May 15. Pre-ordering any edition before launch locks in an exclusive, pre-tuned Ferrari J50 — a real-world car of which only 10 were ever built, originally produced by Ferrari to mark 50 years of the brand in Japan.
The full map was revealed on April 8, 2026. Below is everything confirmed so far — region by region, car roster, edition details, and all key dates — in one place. If you are tracking other major 2026 releases, check our coverage of the GTA 6 release date and confirmed details.
Explore the Japan Map
Select a region to see confirmed routes, landmarks and driving types. Playground Games built the map around the feel of Japan rather than a one-to-one recreation of real roads.
- 5× larger than any previous Horizon urban area
- Routes inspired by the real C1 Loop and Ginkgo Avenue
- Shibuya Crossing and Daikoku Parking Area recreated
- Elevated Shuto Expressway visible across the skyline
- Docks, industrial zones and Tokyo harbour drivable
- Street races, drift zones and car meets across all districts
- Snowy ski runs and off-road mountain trails
- Routes inspired by Mt. Haruna and Bandai Azuma
- Ideal terrain for trucks and off-road builds
- Dynamic seasonal conditions that affect driving physics
- The Estate — open-world customisable valley property — here
- Opening sequence: race the Shinkansen through the Alps
- Touge battle routes through forest mountain passes
- Spiral bridge drift zone — one corner, past 360 degrees
- Hakone Turnpike recreation with tight hairpin section
- Traditional shrines, rice paddies and rural towns
- Seasonal cherry blossom and autumn leaf canopies on roads
- Narrow lane roads giving way to wider arterial roads
- Beach off-road event courses confirmed in previews
- Harbour and dockside roads connecting to Tokyo waterfront
- Panoramic viewpoints for in-game photography stamps
- Seasonal rain and coastal wind effects on handling
- Mix of tarmac and gravel surface types
- Ebisu Circuit-inspired track — globally known drift venue
- Purpose-built rallycross track with multiple layouts
- Spec Racing Championships use closed-circuit venues
- Time Attack Circuits and Drag Meets hosted here
- CoLab EventLab allows custom event building anywhere in world
↑ Real-world Japan locations that inspired the Forza Horizon 6 map. The in-game world is a stylised interpretation — not a one-to-one recreation. Tap markers for details. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Cars — What’s Been Confirmed
Over 550 real-world cars confirmed at launch. Filter below to browse by type. The full car list will continue to be revealed by Playground Games ahead of the May 19 launch.
Key Dates — The Full Timeline
From the first teaser through to launch and beyond — every confirmed milestone for Forza Horizon 6.
Editions — What’s In Each
Three editions are available. All include the Ferrari J50 pre-order bonus when purchased before May 19, 2026. Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass members access the full game from May 19 at no extra cost.
- ✓Full game
- ✓Ferrari J50 (pre-order, all buyers)
- —Early Access
- —Car Pass (30 cars)
- —VIP Membership
- —Premium Expansions (×2)
- —Italian Passion Car Pack
- ✓Full game
- ✓Ferrari J50 (pre-order, all buyers)
- ✓Welcome Pack — 5 cars + Car Voucher
- ✓Car Pass — 30 cars, 1 per week
- —Early Access
- —VIP Membership
- —Premium Expansions (×2)
- ✓Full game
- ✓Ferrari J50 (pre-order, all buyers)
- ✓4 Days Early Access from May 15
- ✓VIP Membership — 2× credits + perks
- ✓Welcome Pack + Car Pass (30 cars)
- ✓Time Attack Car Pack
- ✓Italian Passion Car Pack
- ✓2 Premium Expansions post-launch
Standard and Deluxe Edition owners can also purchase the Premium Upgrade separately to unlock Early Access from May 15 and all Premium content. Early Access is available to Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass members who add the Premium Upgrade.
Routes Mapped, Cars Listed, Dates Set
The Forza Horizon 6 Japan setting was covered here with all details confirmed by Playground Games through the official map reveal, the January 2026 Xbox Developer Direct, and the Forza.net editions page. The map regions, Tokyo’s scale, the 550+ car roster, the seasonal system, the spiral bridge drift zone, the confirmed mountain passes and the full editions breakdown were all covered above.
The launch window and platform details were set out as announced — May 15 for Premium Edition Early Access, May 19 for the full global release on Xbox Series X|S and PC, with a PlayStation 5 version to follow at a date yet to be confirmed. For players keeping an eye on other major 2026 gaming calendar entries, The Game Tribune’s coverage of the State of Decay 3 alpha playtest in May 2026 and the Monster Hunter Outlanders CBT2 registration are available.