The latest news confirms that Forza Horizon 6 is officially in development and is targeting a 2026 release, with its setting in Japan now essentially confirmed following multiple leaks, official teases, and statements from Xbox leadership[1].
Key points on the announcement and upcoming reveals:
- The game is expected to be revealed at the Tokyo Game Show (TGS) 2025 in late September, with Xbox scheduling a live broadcast on Thursday, September 25, featuring “Japan-inspired” content, heavily speculated to include Forza Horizon 6[1].
- Microsoft has reserved an hour-long showcase on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at TGS dedicated to an unnamed Xbox title—widely believed across the industry to be the first extended preview of Forza Horizon 6[1].
- The series is breaking its usual 2-3 year cycle, with Forza Horizon 6 arriving five years after Horizon 5, matching Microsoft’s new, longer AAA development approach[1].
- Statements from Xbox CEO Phil Spencer at the June 2025 Xbox Games Showcase confirm “the next Forza” is targeting 2026, aligning with rumors and accidental leaks (notably, a deleted post involving the scanning of a Japanese kei car by Playground Games developers)[1].
- The game is expected to launch first on Xbox Series X|S and PC, with day-one availability on Game Pass; a PlayStation release is considered plausible later, but is not expected at launch[1].
Supporting details and leaks:
- The return of the classic Fujimi Kaido route in Forza Motorsport 2023 has led fans to speculate that Japanese mountain passes, or “touge,” will feature heavily in Horizon 6’s map[1].
- New development teams formed by ex-Horizon leads, such as Lighthouse and Maverick Games, add competition and further suggest the franchise is undergoing significant changes[1].
- The TGS2025 teaser, together with credible insider reports and visible social media activity, strongly point to a Japanese reveal and significant focus on local car culture[1].
Players can look forward to official gameplay and deeper details at TGS 2025, with more concrete information expected throughout 2025 leading up to the 2026 release window[1].