Forza Horizon 6 Release Date and Global Launch Times

After years of fan requests spanning more than a decade, Forza Horizon 6 finally brings the Horizon Festival to Japan. Expect to dive into street races, precision drifting, and a vibrant culture of kei trucks. However, before you can hit the asphalt, there are critical details regarding the Forza Horizon 6 launch times and release date that every player needs to know.

The release schedule is complicated by platform differences and edition tiers. There are two distinct dates to track: the advanced access period for Premium edition owners and the standard release date for the general public. Furthermore, console and PC versions do not unlock simultaneously, adding another layer of complexity to the launch day schedule.

Standard Release Date: May 19 Unlock Times

The global launch for Forza Horizon 6 is set for Tuesday, May 19. While the date is fixed, the exact unlock time varies significantly depending on your platform and geographic region.

Xbox and Xbox App on PC

For players on Xbox consoles or the Xbox App on PC, the game unlocks at 12:01 am local time. However, there is a notable exception for players in the US Pacific time zone. Due to server synchronization protocols, US Pacific players will actually get access earlier at 9:01 pm PDT on Monday, May 18.

Steam Release Times

Steam operates on a global unlock schedule based on 4:01 am UTC. This creates staggered availability for players around the world on Tuesday, May 19:

  • US Pacific: 9:01 pm PDT (Monday, May 18)
  • US Eastern: 12:01 am EDT
  • UK: 5:01 am GMT
  • Europe: 6:01 am CEST
  • Australia: 2:01 pm AEST
  • New Zealand: 4:01 pm NZST
  • Japan: 1:01 pm JST

While Forza Horizon 6 is confirmed to come to PS5 later this year, Microsoft has not yet provided a solid release date for the PlayStation platform.

Premium Edition Early Access: May 15

Avid race festival enthusiasts who purchase the $120 Premium edition of Forza Horizon 6 gain a significant advantage: four days of advanced access. This early entry begins on Friday, May 15.

It is crucial to note that this early access is exclusive to the Premium edition. The $100 Deluxe edition does not include this benefit. Premium owners also receive the full Forza Horizon 6 car list via included DLC packs, allowing them to explore the full roster of vehicles before the general public.

Early Access Unlock Times

Like the standard launch, early access unlock times differ by platform:

  • Xbox and Xbox App: 12:01 am local time on Friday, May 15.
  • US Pacific Exception: 9:01 pm PDT on Thursday, May 14.
  • Steam Global Unlock: 4:01 am UTC on Friday, May 15, resulting in the following regional times:
    • US Pacific: 9:01 pm PDT (Thursday, May 14)
    • US Eastern: 12:01 am EDT
    • UK: 5:01 am GMT
    • Europe: 6:01 am CEST
    • Australia: 2:01 pm AEST
    • New Zealand: 4:01 pm NZST
    • Japan: 1:01 pm JST

Preload Availability and Storage Requirements

Forza Horizon 6 preloads are now available for download on both PC and Xbox. Preloading is a essential step for launch day, given the massive file sizes involved.

  • PC Requirement: Approximately 160 GB of free storage space.
  • Xbox Requirement: Upwards of 135 GB of free storage space.

Critical Note for PC Players

PC players, whether using Steam or the Xbox App, must ensure their Gaming Services are updated to play the game. This service, managed through the Microsoft Store, can sometimes be unreliable. To avoid last-minute issues, it is highly recommended that you update your Gaming Services in advance of the Forza Horizon 6 launch times.