Forza Horizon 6 has officially reached a major development milestone, with Playground Games confirming that the open-world racer has gone gold ahead of its upcoming release. The announcement comes just weeks before players gain access, alongside details on preload availability, technical performance options, and the game’s expansive soundtrack.
Players can now begin preloading the full game on Xbox Series X and Series S as well as PC through the Xbox app, with Steam support expected to follow. Storage requirements are substantial, with the Series X version requiring 135GB, Series S needing 130GB, and the PC version coming in at 160GB alongside an SSD requirement. Those who have pre-ordered any edition of the game or are subscribed to Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass can download it in advance, ensuring immediate access when early access begins on May 15 for Premium Edition owners. The global launch is scheduled for May 19.
Music continues to play a central role in the Horizon Festival, and this entry is set to feature the largest collection of tracks in the series to date. Forza Horizon 6 will include 9 radio stations spanning multiple genres, from electronic and drum and bass to rock, indie, hip hop, and classical. The soundtrack also introduces J-pop tracks to the series for the first time, reflecting the game’s Japanese setting. Playground Games has begun revealing selections from the lineup, with full tracklists expected to be shared across its social channels, alongside curated playlists for streaming platforms.
On the technical side, the game offers both Quality and Performance modes across Xbox Series X and Series S. On Series X, players can opt for native 4K resolution at 30fps with enhanced visuals, or a dynamically scaled 4K presentation targeting 60fps. Series S users will have access to 1440p at 30fps in Quality mode or 1080p at 60fps in Performance mode, with both configurations using dynamic resolution scaling to maintain stable performance.
The developer is also rewarding long-time fans of the franchise with loyalty bonuses. Players who have previously played earlier Forza titles will receive specific cars in Forza Horizon 6 once they complete the opening Tokyo City race. These rewards include vehicles tied to multiple entries in both the Forza Motorsport and Forza Horizon series.
Accessibility remains a significant focus, with the game introducing new features alongside returning options. Players can make use of AutoDrive to navigate the world, while Proximity Radar assists in identifying nearby vehicles. A newly introduced High Contrast Mode improves visual clarity by simplifying on-screen elements and can be customized to suit individual needs. Additional features such as controller remapping, subtitles, color blind filters, and adjustable difficulty settings are also included. A post-launch update will add sign language support for cinematics, featuring picture-in-picture interpreters.
