Forza Horizon 6 is still coming to PS5 in 2026, developer confirms

If you've been holding off on Forza Horizon 6 until it hits PS5, the wait isn't stretching into 2027. Playground Games posted a blog update on September 7 confirming the PS5 version is still on track for 2026, directly countering rumors that Microsoft had pushed the port to avoid a head-on collision with GTA VI's November 19 launch. No specific date was given — just "later this year."

The rumor, and why it spread

Forza Horizon 6 launched May 19 on Xbox Series X|S and PC to strong reviews, scoring 90 on Metacritic. A PS5 release was always part of the plan, but August speculation suggested Microsoft quietly delayed it to 2027 to sidestep GTA VI's massive shadow in Q4. Playground's response was a straightforward restatement in its series blog:

> "If you're planning to discover Japan on PlayStation 5, stay tuned! Forza Horizon 6 will be coming to PS5 later this year, and you can add the game to your wishlist on PlayStation Store."

The timing of the clarification — posted as Forza Blog (Sep 2026) confirmed Series 5 content — reads as deliberate damage control against the delay chatter.

What to expect

The commercial logic for a 2026 PS5 release is solid. Forza Horizon 5's PS5 port, released in April 2025, sold over 5.5 million copies — proving that Xbox-to-PlayStation ports can perform well even months after the original launch. That precedent almost certainly applies pressure to get FH6 on Sony's platform before year's end.

Hit UK Retailer currently lists a December 30, 2026 pre-order placeholder at £58.85, which is an industry-standard end-of-year filler date rather than a confirmed release. The realistic window is tighter — late October through early December — though Playground hasn't narrowed it down.

The GTA VI factor

GTA VI drops November 19 and will consume enormous bandwidth in the Q4 gaming calendar. Whether Forza Horizon 6 lands before or after that date will likely shape its first-month sales trajectory on PS5. Playground isn't saying which side of November 19 it's targeting, but "later this year" with September already underway points to a finite window.

For now, PlayStation Store has a wishlist page live for the game. Expect a firm release date announcement well before it ships.