Forza Horizon 6 earned a 92 Metacritic score and massive early player numbers while Microsoft issued severe bans after a leaked pre-release build spread online.
Forza Horizon 6 has launched to widespread acclaim, earning a Metacritic score of 92 and tying the highest-rated entries in the franchise’s history. But while critics praised the game’s ambitious new Japan setting, Microsoft was simultaneously dealing with controversy after an unreleased PC build leaked online days before official early access began.
The latest installment from Playground Games officially opens to all players on May 19 for Xbox Series X/S and PC. Subscribers to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass can access the title at no extra charge, while players on lower subscription tiers are excluded from launch access.
Early reception has been extremely strong. On Steam, the game reached more than 170,000 concurrent players during paid early access, more than doubling the peak numbers achieved by Forza Horizon 5 on the platform. The performance suggests that the franchise’s long-awaited move to Japan has resonated strongly with players and critics alike.
The celebration surrounding the launch was complicated by an unexpected leak. Reports indicate that Microsoft accidentally uploaded an unencrypted preload version of the game to Steam on May 10, allowing users to extract and distribute the full 155 GB build before release. Within a day, pirated copies reportedly spread across torrent sites, while gameplay footage appeared online before review embargoes expired.
In response, Playground Games confirmed it was taking aggressive action against anyone accessing unauthorized versions of the title. Some players allegedly received permanent hardware-level bans tied to Xbox services, with expiration dates humorously listed as December 31, 9999 — effectively lifetime suspensions for affected systems.
The situation also triggered frustration among players who purchased the game’s expensive Premium Edition, which costs around $120 and grants four days of early access. Some fans criticized Microsoft after unauthorized users gained access for free ahead of paying customers.
Critics, however, largely focused on the game itself — especially its expansive recreation of Japan. Reviewers highlighted the map as the strongest open world the series has ever produced, blending dense urban streets inspired by Tokyo with mountain roads, rural villages, industrial zones, and snowy regions in the north.
Several major outlets praised the driving experience and environmental variety. Some reviewers called the game the most polished entry in the series, while others questioned whether the long-running formula risks becoming too familiar after six major installments.
Despite those concerns, the critical response has cemented Forza Horizon 6 as one of 2026’s highest-rated releases so far. The game now shares the franchise’s top Metacritic score with both Forza Horizon 4 and Forza Horizon 5.
The launch also reignited debate over modern “early access” pricing models. Some critics argued that charging extra for access a few days before launch effectively creates a paywall around the real release date, especially for Game Pass subscribers already paying monthly fees. Microsoft, meanwhile, maintains that the Premium Edition offers additional value through expansion packs, bonus vehicles, and VIP content rather than simply selling early access alone.
On the technical side, Xbox Series X players can choose between a native 4K mode running at 30fps or a performance mode targeting 60fps with dynamic resolution scaling. PC players receive broader graphical support, including uncapped framerates and technologies such as NVIDIA DLSS, AMD FSR, and Intel XeSS.
Commercial expectations for the game were already enormous before launch. Industry analysts estimated that the title accumulated more than half a million Steam pre-orders and over 3 million wishlists before release. Interest from Japanese players was reportedly far above average for a Steam title, reinforcing the success of the new setting choice.
A PlayStation 5 version has also been confirmed for release later in 2026, continuing Microsoft’s broader multiplatform strategy. While no exact launch date has been announced yet, industry observers expect the wait for PS5 players to be considerably shorter than the gap between the Xbox and PlayStation releases of Forza Horizon 5.