Playground Games has officially confirmed the global release schedule for Forza Horizon 6, silencing speculation that a recent PC leak would force a change in launch plans. Despite the game being made available to pirates prematurely, Microsoft and Playground have moved to plug the security breach, including issuing lifetime hardware ID bans, ensuring the official release timeline remains intact.
The hotly anticipated racing title will launch as scheduled, with early access beginning on May 15 for eligible editions. Below are the detailed global release times, early access rules, and preload information for Xbox and PC players.
Early Access and Full Launch Schedule
Forza Horizon 6’s release window is structured to provide early access to premium buyers while aligning with global time zones. The launch pattern primarily utilizes the U.S. Eastern Time (ET) zone as the baseline for Steam releases, though Xbox launches have specific early-start windows for West Coast players.
Xbox Release Windows
Early access on Xbox is exclusive to those who purchase the Premium Edition. To accommodate players on the West Coast, the game becomes playable on the evening of May 14 in the Pacific Time zone, aligning with the Eastern timezone launch the following morning.
Xbox Early Access Global Release Times:
- Thursday, May 14, 2026:
- PT (Seattle): 09:01 pm
- CST (Mexico City): 11:01 pm
- Friday, May 15, 2026:
- ET (New York): 00:01 am
- BST (London): 00:01 am
- CEST (Paris): 00:01 am
- JST (Tokyo): 00:01 am
- KST (Seoul): 00:01 am
- AEST (Sydney): 00:01 am
- NZST (Auckland): 00:01 am
The full global release for all Xbox players follows shortly after.
Xbox Global Release Times:
- Monday, May 18, 2026:
- PT (Seattle): 09:01 pm
- CST (Mexico City): 11:01 pm
- Tuesday, May 19, 2026:
- ET (New York): 00:01 am
- BST (London): 00:01 am
- CEST (Paris): 00:01 am
- JST (Tokyo): 00:01 am
- KST (Seoul): 00:01 am
- AEST (Sydney): 00:01 am
- NZST (Auckland): 00:01 am
PC via Steam Release Windows
Steam access for everyone begins at 12:01 am U.S. Eastern Time. This global release pattern ensures that the Steam launch is aligned to Eastern time, differing slightly from the Xbox midnight global drop.
PC via Steam Early Access Global Release Times:
- Thursday, May 14, 2026:
- PT (Seattle): 09:01 pm
- CST (Mexico City): 11:01 pm
- Friday, May 15, 2026:
- ET (New York): 00:01 am
- BST (London): 05:01 am
- CEST (Paris): 06:01 am
- JST (Tokyo): 01:01 pm
- KST (Seoul): 01:01 pm
- AEST (Sydney): 02:01 pm
- NZST (Auckland): 04:01 pm
PC via Steam Full Global Release Times:
- Monday, May 18, 2026:
- PT (Seattle): 09:01 pm
- CST (Mexico City): 11:01 pm
- Tuesday, May 19, 2026:
- ET (New York): 00:01 am
- BST (London): 05:01 am
- CEST (Paris): 06:01 am
- JST (Tokyo): 01:01 pm
- KST (Seoul): 01:01 pm
- AEST (Sydney): 02:01 pm
- NZST (Auckland): 04:01 pm
Game Pass and Preload Details
As a first-party Microsoft title, Forza Horizon 6 will launch day one on Game Pass for both PC and Game Pass Ultimate subscribers on May 19, 2026.
Preload capabilities have already gone live, allowing players to download the game files in advance. Preload is available now across the following platforms:
- Steam
- Xbox Series X and S
- Xbox app for PC
While a PS5 version is confirmed for release later this year, current preload options are limited to the Xbox and PC ecosystems.
Hardware Compatibility
For players using handheld or portable devices, Forza Horizon 6 is currently marked as 'Verified' on Steam Deck. This certification ensures a smooth experience on other compatible handheld devices, including the ASUS ROG Ally and ROG Ally X. Players can expect full functionality and optimized performance on these handheld PC gaming devices.
