Forza Horizon 6 early access has officially begun, allowing Premium Edition owners to jump into the highly anticipated open-world racing game several days before its global launch.
Developer Playground Games confirmed that players who purchased the Premium Edition or Premium Upgrade can begin playing from May 15, while the standard worldwide release is scheduled for May 19 on Xbox Series X|S and PC.
Forza Horizon 6 Takes Players to Japan
The latest installment in the Horizon franchise is set in a fictionalized version of Japan, featuring neon-lit city streets, mountain roads, countryside landscapes, drifting circuits, and expanded multiplayer features.
The game includes more than 550 vehicles and introduces new progression systems built around exploration, racing, and online competition. Playground Games says players can earn “Festival Wristbands” by progressing through different activities across the Horizon Festival.
According to official details, the game also brings back Wheelspins, introduces Horizon Play leaderboards, and expands cooperative gameplay options through new social features and community-created events.
Early Access Available Through Premium Edition
Players can access the game early by purchasing the Premium Edition, which includes additional post-launch expansions, car packs, VIP membership benefits, and early access privileges. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers can also unlock early access by purchasing the Premium Upgrade bundle.
Microsoft’s Xbox store states that the Premium Edition includes:
- Four days of early access
- Future premium expansions
- Car Pass content
- VIP membership
- Welcome Pack bonuses
Leak Controversy Emerged Before Launch
The game’s launch week was overshadowed by a major leak after an unencrypted PC build reportedly surfaced online ahead of release.
Following the incident, Playground Games warned players against downloading or accessing unauthorized versions of the game, saying users caught playing leaked copies could face franchise-wide bans and hardware restrictions.
Microsoft and Playground Games stressed that the leak was not connected to the official preload system and said enforcement actions would target accounts found using pirated builds.
PC Features and Performance Upgrades
For PC players, Forza Horizon 6 launches with upgraded visual technologies, including ray-traced lighting effects and support for NVIDIA DLSS enhancements on supported hardware.
The game also supports multiple graphics modes across Xbox Series consoles, with performance settings targeting 60 FPS gameplay.
Global Release Timing
Forza Horizon 6 officially launches on May 19 for Standard and Deluxe Edition buyers, while Premium Edition owners can start racing on May 15 depending on their regional timezone.
The game is currently available on:
- Xbox Series X|S
- Windows PC
- Xbox Cloud Gaming
A PlayStation 5 version is also expected later in 2026.