Forza Horizon 6 is now through its final pre-launch milestone. Playground Games says the open-world racer has gone gold, meaning it is being prepared for retail discs and digital release ahead of early access on May 15 and the full Xbox Series X|S and PC launch on May 19.
The timing gives Xbox and PC players a clearer look at the last practical details before release. Preloads are live now on Xbox Series X|S and PC through the Xbox app, while Steam preload support is still listed as coming soon. The PlayStation 5 version remains planned for later in 2026, with no PS5 preload size confirmed yet.
Forza Horizon 6 is the next mainline entry in Playground's open-world racing series, moving the Horizon Festival to Japan with Tokyo-inspired city driving, mountain roads, car meets, touge battles and more than 550 cars at launch. Gamers Now recently covered how Horizon Play will act as Forza Horizon 6's multiplayer hub, and this latest update shifts the focus from features to download planning.
Forza Horizon 6 preload sizes are hefty
The full install is not small. Playground says Xbox Series X needs 135GB of free space, while Xbox Series S needs 130GB. PC players downloading through the Xbox app need 160GB and an SSD.
Players can preload after pre-ordering any edition of Forza Horizon 6 or through an active Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass subscription. Disc buyers can also start the console download through the Xbox mobile app by finding the game in the Store and choosing Download to Console.
Anyone who previously downloaded the placeholder file should check for updates on their platform, since Playground recommends making sure the complete game files are installed before launch.
Xbox performance modes and launch rewards confirmed
The same official update also locks down Xbox Series X|S rendering targets. Xbox Series X will offer Quality mode at native 4K and 30fps, plus a Performance mode targeting 4K with dynamic scaling to hold 60fps. Xbox Series S will offer 1440p at 30fps in Quality mode and 1080p at 60fps in Performance mode, again with dynamic resolution scaling.
Playground also detailed the game's Loyalty Rewards system. Players with previous Forza games tied to their Xbox Gamertag can receive special cars in Forza Horizon 6 after completing the Tokyo City introductory race with Mei. The rewards include the 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray for Forza Motorsport, the 2021 Mercedes-AMG ONE for Forza Horizon 5 and cars tied to each numbered Horizon entry back to the original Forza Horizon.
The studio's radio reveal adds another launch-week detail: Forza Horizon 6 will have nine radio stations and what Playground calls the largest number of tracks yet in a Horizon game. The published artist lists include Linkin Park, BABYMETAL, Rise Against, Spiritbox, Turnstile, Poppy, FISHER and Calvin Harris among the early confirmed names.
Forza Horizon 6 launches for Xbox Series X|S and PC on May 19. Premium Edition and Premium Upgrade owners get early access from May 15, and Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass members can play on launch day through their subscriptions.