Forza Horizon 6 is already off to a blazing start. Even before its official global release, the latest racing title from Playground Games has become the biggest launch in the franchise’s history on Steam.
Players who purchased early access were able to begin racing across Japan starting Friday (15), and the response has been massive. During the early access period alone, the game reached a peak of more than 172,000 simultaneous players on Steam, setting a new record for the series on Valve Corporation’s platform.
That figure more than doubles the launch peak of its predecessor and signals enormous momentum heading into full release.
Biggest Steam Launch in Forza Horizon History
The Forza Horizon series has steadily grown in popularity over the years, but Forza Horizon 6 has taken things to another level.
Here’s how the franchise compares on Steam and Metacritic:
| Game | Peak Concurrent Players (Steam) | Metacritic Score (Xbox) |
|---|---|---|
| Forza Horizon 6 (2026) | 172,000+ | 92 |
| Forza Horizon 5 (2021) | 81,000+ | 92 |
| Forza Horizon 4 (2018) | 75,000+ | 92 |
| Forza Horizon 3 (2016) | — | 91 |
| Forza Horizon 2 (2014) | — | 86 |
| Forza Horizon (2012) | — | 85 |
Not only has the new installment shattered player count records, but it has also earned an impressive 92 average score on Metacritic, placing it among the highest-rated games of the year so far.
Japan Setting Wins Over Players and Critics
One of the biggest reasons behind the excitement is the game’s long-awaited setting: Japan.
Fans of the franchise have spent years requesting a Horizon festival inspired by Japanese car culture, mountain roads, neon-lit cities, and countryside highways. Early impressions suggest Playground Games delivered exactly that.
The map combines:
- Dense urban environments
- Mountain drift routes
- Coastal highways
- Rural villages
- Dynamic weather and seasonal effects
Critics have especially praised the game’s visual fidelity, driving physics, soundtrack, and open-world atmosphere.
Launch Success Comes After Major Leak Controversy
The game’s strong reception arrives shortly after an unexpected controversy surrounding leaked PC access.
Before launch, some users reportedly discovered a method to access Forza Horizon 6 early through an undisclosed exploit. Playground Games reacted aggressively, issuing widespread bans against accounts attempting to bypass official access restrictions.
According to multiple reports online, some players even received hardware bans with absurd expiration dates reportedly lasting over 8,000 years.
While the studio hasn’t publicly detailed the exploit itself, the response made it clear that unauthorized access would not be tolerated.
Official Release Date and Xbox Game Pass Availability
The full worldwide launch of Forza Horizon 6 is scheduled for May 19, arriving on:
- PC
- Xbox Series X
- Xbox Series S
Subscribers to:
- Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
- PC Game Pass
will also gain access to the game at launch.
What About the PS5 Version?
PlayStation 5 players won’t be left out entirely.
A PS5 version of Forza Horizon 6 has already been announced, marking another major Xbox franchise expanding beyond Microsoft platforms. However, Playground Games has not yet revealed an official release date for Sony’s console.
For now, PlayStation players will have to wait a little longer before joining the streets of Japan.
Between record-breaking player numbers, critical acclaim, and overwhelming excitement from fans, Forza Horizon 6 is shaping up to be the biggest Horizon release yet.
The combination of Japan’s iconic car culture, improved gameplay systems, and the series’ signature festival atmosphere appears to have resonated strongly with both longtime fans and newcomers alike.
And with the full launch still ahead, the game’s biggest milestones may only be getting started.
