Forza Horizon 6 appears to have hit a serious pre-launch problem on PC, with reports saying an unencrypted Steam preload exposed the game's files before its official release. The leak arrives just days before Premium Edition early access begins on May 15 and the full launch follows on May 19.
Insider Gaming reported that roughly 155GB of Forza Horizon 6 content was made accessible through Steam after a preload update went out without the usual encryption protection. IGN Nordic also reported that the preload and its decryption update appear to have been released early, giving dataminers access before the game was meant to unlock.
Microsoft and Playground Games have not publicly commented on the reported leak. The situation does not appear to have changed the launch schedule, but it creates an awkward final stretch for one of Xbox's biggest 2026 releases.
The leak lands right before early access
Steam preloads are normally meant to let buyers download most of a game ahead of release while keeping the files encrypted until launch. In this case, reports say the files were accessible early, with piracy communities moving quickly to make the build playable.
The leaked version is not being described as a clean substitute for the launch build. The assigned report says players who accessed it have reported missing online functionality and crashes after the first race. That caveat matters for a Horizon game, since the series leans heavily on shared-world driving, online events, car meets and community-created content.
The timing is especially rough because Forza Horizon 6 only recently moved into its preload phase. Playground Games had already confirmed large install sizes across Xbox and PC, while the Steam preload was one of the last practical steps before release week.
Forza Horizon 6 is still set for May 19
Forza's official site lists Forza Horizon 6 for Xbox Series X|S and PC through the Microsoft Store and Steam on May 19. Premium Edition players get access four days earlier on May 15, while a PlayStation 5 version is planned for later in 2026.
The game moves the Horizon Festival to Japan, with Tokyo-inspired city streets, countryside routes, mountain passes and more than 550 real-world cars. Playground has also confirmed car meets, touge battles, expanded garage customization, Horizon CoLab creation tools and familiar multiplayer modes including The Eliminator and Hide & Seek. Gamers Now previously covered how Horizon Play will organize Forza Horizon 6's multiplayer modes, which makes the reported online limitations in the leaked build a poor reflection of the intended launch experience.
IGN Nordic reported that Forza Horizon 6 was the second top-selling game by revenue on Steam and the platform's third most-wishlisted game at the time of its report. That gives the leak a wider commercial edge than a typical pre-release slip, because Steam is expected to be a major sales channel alongside Xbox, PC Game Pass and Game Pass Ultimate.
Unless Microsoft or Playground Games says otherwise, Forza Horizon 6 remains scheduled for May 19 on Xbox Series X|S and PC, with Premium Edition early access beginning May 15.