At long last, the Forza Horizon series is heading to the Land of the Rising Sun, with Forza Horizon 6 launching sometime in 2026. Playground Games officially announced Forza Horizon 6 during the Xbox Tokyo Game Show 2025 broadcast and shared a short teaser trailer that included Easter eggs from previous games in the series. For car enthusiasts, Japan has always been an obvious destination for Forza Horizon, as car culture thrives in the country.
According to Playground Games, it has taken until now to go to Japan because the team feels the technology can finally represent Japan correctly. This makes sense, considering Tokyo can shift from concrete jungle to rural farmland quickly, as well as the many elevated roads scattered throughout the country. For those who have never played a Forza Horizon game, the series aims to recreate an entire country as a single, seamless map. Obviously, it’s not a one-to-one representation, but a blend of locations to represent the country.
The teaser shows Mount Fuji, one of the most iconic locations in Japan, but that’s all Playground Games is willing to share for now. It said players can expect both urban and natural environments, from the neon lights and towering buildings of Tokyo to the serenity of Japan’s rural and mountain areas. Personally, I can’t wait to go drifting or a touge run on some of Japan’s famous mountain roads.
Fans of the franchise will be happy to hear Forza Horizon 6 will have seasonal changes, and they will not just change how the game looks but also how it feels. Each season will subtly shift tone, activity, and sound, so don’t be surprised when cherry blossoms bloom during the iconic Sakura season.
As someone who grew up as a massive Japanese car enthusiast and has been embedded in the world and culture for most of my life, I can’t wait to get my hands on Forza Horizon 6. The series is arguably the most entertaining and fun in the racing genre right now, hitting the perfect blend of arcade and simulation.
