Forza Horizon 6 hit 178,009 concurrent Steam players during early access alone, more than doubling Forza Horizon 5’s all-time peak. With a 92 Metacritic score, the Japan-set racer is already 2026’s highest-rated game.
Forza Horizon 6 reached 178,009 concurrent players on Steam on 16 May 2026, shattering every previous record in the franchise before the game has even fully launched. Developed by Playground Games and set in Japan, the open-world racer entered early access on 15 May for Premium Edition buyers and has already more than doubled Forza Horizon 5’s all-time Steam peak of 81,096. With a Metacritic score of 92 based on over 65 reviews, it is the highest-rated game of 2026 so far.
How Big Is This Steam Record?
According to SteamDB, the all-time concurrent player peak for Forza Horizon 6 sits at 178,009, recorded on 16 May 2026. To put that in perspective, here is how it compares to every other game in the franchise:
- Forza Horizon 6: 178,009 (early access only, 16 May 2026)
- Forza Horizon 5: 81,096 (all-time peak)
- Forza Horizon 4: 75,689 (arrived on Steam later)
- Forza Motorsport: 4,703 (all-time peak)
The most striking detail is that these numbers come exclusively from players who paid $120 / £110 for the Premium Edition or purchased the Premium Upgrade on top of a Game Pass subscription. Standard edition owners and regular Game Pass subscribers cannot play until the full launch on 19 May. That means the actual player base is set to grow significantly once the floodgates open.
500,000 Pre-Orders and $30 Million Before Launch Day
The momentum started building well before early access. According to data from Alinea Analytics published in mid-April, Forza Horizon 6 surpassed 500,000 pre-orders on Steam alone by 15 April 2026, generating an estimated $30 million in gross revenue before a single public copy was available. The firm projected that the game could exceed 2 million Steam sales within the first 24 hours of full launch.
Those figures cover only Steam. Console pre-orders through the Xbox Store, Microsoft Store activations, and Game Pass subscriptions are not included. For reference, Forza Horizon 5 reached over 10 million players across all platforms in its first week. Horizon 6 appears to be tracking well ahead of that pace on Steam alone.
Metacritic 92: The Best-Rated Game of 2026
Forza Horizon 6 is not just a commercial success. It currently holds a 92 on Metacritic based on over 65 critic reviews, making it the only major 2026 release to break the 90-point barrier so far. On OpenCritic, the game scores 91 with 100% of critics recommending it. It has overtaken Pokemon Pokopia and Resident Evil Requiem to claim the top spot.
The score also continues a remarkable streak of consistency for the series. Forza Horizon 4 and 5 both scored 92, while Forza Horizon 3 achieved 91. Playground Games has maintained that elite critical benchmark across four consecutive entries. Critics have praised the Japan setting, the revamped progression system, and the visual fidelity, while some reviews noted the showcase events as a minor weak point.
Why Japan Changes Everything
Japan has been the most requested setting in the Forza Horizon community since the series debuted in 2012. With Horizon 6, Playground Games delivered on that demand in a substantial way. Tokyo City in the game is five times larger than Forza Horizon 5’s Guanajuato, making it the biggest urban area in any Horizon game. It features elevated road networks, multiple distinct districts, and the series’ first truly vertical open-world driving environment.
Beyond Tokyo, the map spans mountain passes inspired by Mt. Haruna and Bandai Azuma, the snowy peaks of the Japanese Alps, rural rice paddies, coastal routes, and the iconic Gingko Avenue. Playground Games calls it “the densest, most vertical” map in the franchise. Roads inspired by the real C1 Loop give street racers authentic Japanese driving culture, and the newly introduced 1v1 Touge Battles bring Initial D-style mountain duels directly into the game.
The seasonal system returns with four full seasons plus 18 micro-seasons per cycle, layered with a new “Unkai” cloud weather system. Unlike previous entries, snow and ice are limited to mountain trails and gravel routes, keeping main roads drivable year-round.
Over 550 Cars and a Completely Redesigned Progression
Forza Horizon 6 ships with over 550 real-world cars, the largest launch roster in the series. The lineup leans heavily into JDM culture with brands like Nissan, Honda, and Mitsubishi alongside the usual global supercars, rally cars, SUVs, and vintage vehicles. The cover cars are the 2025 GR GT Prototype and the 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser.
The progression system has been rebuilt around a wristband structure. Players begin as tourists in Japan and must qualify for the Horizon Festival. Each wristband earned unlocks access to faster car classes, starting from C-class vehicles and scaling up through B, A, and beyond. Collecting all seven wristbands grants the “Horizon Legend” title and access to Legend Island, home to the series’ longest-ever race: the Colossus, which loops the entire map.
A parallel progression path called “Discover Japan” tracks non-racing activities including photography, mascot collection, food delivery jobs, street races, and Touge Battles. Everything contributes stamps to a Collection Journal, encouraging thorough exploration of the open world.
Platforms, Pricing, and Game Pass Availability
Forza Horizon 6 launches fully on 19 May 2026 across Xbox Series X|S and PC via the Microsoft Store and Steam. It will be available day one on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass at no additional cost. A PlayStation 5 version has been confirmed for later in 2026, but no specific date has been announced; the PlayStation Store currently lists it as “coming soon.”
On Steam, the Standard Edition is priced at $69.99, while the Premium Edition (which includes early access, VIP membership, Car Pass with 30 cars, and two future expansions) costs $119.99. The Premium Upgrade, which adds premium content to a base or Game Pass version, is also available. The game has been verified for Steam Deck and optimised for handheld PCs including the ROG Ally.
Technical Upgrades: Ray Tracing, Audio, and More
Playground Games introduced a new ray-traced global illumination system for indirect lighting, paired with ray-traced reflections on PC. A refraction-based shader adds depth to car headlights and taillights, creating rainbow refraction effects on polycarbonate-style lights. On Xbox Series X, Quality mode runs at native 4K/30 FPS while Performance mode targets 60 FPS with dynamic resolution scaling up to 2160p.
Audio received a major overhaul. Remastered engine sounds use new acoustic modelling technology, and extensive field recordings captured across all four Japanese seasons add environmental authenticity. Steering animations now support up to 540 degrees of wheel rotation, and cosmetic tyre wear reflects driving behaviour visually. AMD’s Advanced Shader Delivery debuted on PC with Radeon RX 7000 and RX 9000 GPUs, reducing shader compilation stutter and loading times.
What Happens After Full Launch on 19 May?
The full launch is expected to bring a massive wave of new players. Game Pass subscribers represent one of the largest potential audiences for any Xbox first-party title, and the standard edition price point will attract buyers who skipped the premium tier. If Forza Horizon 5’s first-week figure of 10 million players across all platforms is any guide, Horizon 6 is well-positioned to surpass it.
The game’s 92 Metacritic score also puts it in serious Game of the Year contention. Racing games have historically been overlooked in GOTY discussions, but Forza Horizon 6 has both the critical and commercial momentum to challenge that trend. With no other 2026 release currently above 90 on Metacritic, the bar is high for anything that follows.
What Players Are Asking
Is Forza Horizon 6 on Game Pass?
Yes. Forza Horizon 6 is included in Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass from 19 May 2026. Early access before that date required the Premium Edition or Premium Upgrade purchase.
When does the PS5 version release?
Playground Games confirmed Forza Horizon 6 will come to PlayStation 5 later in 2026. No exact date has been announced. The PlayStation Store listing currently says “coming soon,” and industry speculation points to a window between August and November 2026.
How many concurrent players does Forza Horizon 6 have?
As of 16 May 2026, the all-time Steam peak is 178,009 concurrent players, achieved during the early access period. This figure only counts Steam; Xbox and Microsoft Store players are not included in public numbers.
How many cars are in Forza Horizon 6?
The game launches with over 550 real-world cars. The roster emphasises Japanese car culture with a deep JDM selection, alongside supercars, rally cars, off-roaders, and vintage vehicles. New features include Aftermarket Cars found in the open world and Forza Edition cars with extreme modifications.
Is Forza Horizon 6 verified for Steam Deck?
Yes. Playground Games confirmed Steam Deck Verified status at launch, along with optimisation for handheld PCs such as the ROG Ally and Ally X.
