Forza Horizon 6 Gameplay Looks Pretty Much The Same, But That's A Good Thing

Forza Horizon 6 is coming, and the wraps are slowly coming off. This week, we got our first look at some real in-game footage and gameplay, including cruising several of Japan's fictional locales and the racing stages that will be built from them. The gameplay teaser clocks in at just over six minutes and gives us a great look at what's coming to the Horizon franchise with the upcoming installment.

The video looks to be set during the game's prologue, which features a very similar "here's what you can look forward to" sequence. It's all intended to showcase some of the game's Japanese automotive highlights set against another highlights reel of in-game locations. That means driving a Nissan GT-R under a canopy of cherry blossoms, drifting through winding mountain roads, and conquering rugged peaks in off-road machines.

It feels familiar because it is. Horizon 5 featured a very similar intro sequence. There will be some key gameplay differences, like a more linear progression system for cars, but the game's core ethos is still there. A real focus on exploration and competition is still here, and Microsoft has clearly maintained an emphasis on social functions within the game, too, as illustrated by a few controls present on-screen during the trailer.

The game's map promises to be just as sprawling as the previous Horizon installments, and places a real focus on seasonal diversity. However, the developers have said roads will stay clearer than in Horizon 4 following player feedback. Regardless, it means the ability to explore everything from Japan's famous Touges to sprawling cityscapes clearly influenced by downtown Tokyo, to snowy mountain biomes. Towering over it all is an in-game replica of Mount Fuji. We'll likely get to see more in the next month or so before the game's release, and hopefully that includes a more in-depth look at the roster of cars. Forza Horizon 6releases on May 9, 2026.