Forza Horizon 6 goes gold, confirms May 19 launch with no delays
Forza Horizon 6 has gone gold, meaning the game is finished and heading to manufacturing — the May 19, 2026 launch date is locked in with no delays. Playground Games and Microsoft confirmed the milestone, which covers the Standard and Deluxe editions; Premium Edition buyers get four days early access starting May 15. The game lands day one on Xbox Game Pass, making it one of the biggest day-one additions the subscription has seen.
Tokyo, 550+ cars, biggest map yet
Set in Japan for the first time in the franchise's history, Forza Horizon 6 centres on a Tokyo-based open world described as five times larger than Edinburgh in Forza Horizon 4 — the largest map in any Horizon game to date. At launch the garage holds over 550 real-world licensed cars, alongside a solo career mode and a stack of online modes and activities. Xbox Series X players can run the game at 4K/30fps in Quality mode or dynamic 4K/60fps in Performance mode; Series S tops out at 1440p/30fps or 1080p/60fps depending on the mode chosen.
Pre-load is live now on the Microsoft Store, with Steam following shortly. Storage is a consideration: the PC version needs 160GB on an SSD, while Xbox Series X requires 135GB and Series S 130GB. If your drive is tight, now is the time to clear space.
Forza Horizon 6 has gone gold! We're excited to share this news as we start revealing the game's radio stations, accessibility features, and more! Don't forget that preloads for the game on Xbox Series X|S and the Xbox PC app are now available! ?
— Forza Horizon (@ForzaHorizon) May 4, 2026
Read all about it here:… pic.twitter.com/WOzBU3Qcw6
Game Pass value vs. buying outright
For Game Pass Ultimate subscribers — currently £16.99/month in the UK — the day-one inclusion means no additional outlay for one of 2026's most anticipated releases. Buying outright costs £69.99 for the Standard Edition or £109.99 for Premium, per GamesRadar. At those prices, Game Pass quickly pays for itself compared to a standalone Premium purchase.
PS5 owners will have to wait. A PlayStation 5 version is confirmed, but Forza official puts it at "later in 2026" — no specific date. That creates a six-month-plus window where the game is exclusive to Xbox Series X|S and PC, a meaningful gap as Microsoft looks to shore up its console and subscription business ahead of other major 2026 releases.
The bottom line
If you're already on Game Pass, Forza Horizon 6 is essentially free on day one — no subscription upgrade needed. If you're on PS5 only, the wait looks to stretch into late 2026 at the earliest.
