Forza Horizon May Finally Be Set in Japan According to a Removed Social Media Post

      Xbox Game Studios

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      There is a passionate group of Forza Horizon enthusiasts eager for the next installment to take place in Japan. It has been four years since the last release in the series, quite a lengthy gap in the Forza realm, and Xbox's officials have indicated that Horizon 6 is expected to arrive in 2026. We must be nearing something significant. A deleted social media post from an Australian Japanese car importer has intensified speculation that Forza Horizon may at last be venturing into the land of the Rising Sun.

      The importer, Cult and Classic, posted on its Instagram story earlier this week about a member of the Forza Horizon team filming one of the Suzuki Every kei vans from their collection. The post did not explicitly state that Japan would be the setting for FH6—only that this vehicle was being filmed “for the next installation in the series.”

      It's worth noting that Forza Horizon 5 includes one kei car—the Autozam AZ-1—even though it is set in Mexico. However, Forza's vehicle lineups have not heavily featured kei cars, and the Every is the type of vehicle you would expect to encounter in typical Japanese traffic. Furthermore, Forza Motorsport development team members recently traveled to Japan to gather assets for the rejuvenated Fujimi Kaido track, suggesting a connection. It seems unlikely they would travel so far solely to revive a fictional track for a series that, unfortunately, may no longer be active.

      Forza Horizon enjoys immense popularity, and FH5’s release on the PlayStation 5, occurring more than three years after its initial launch on Xbox and PC, has proven to be highly successful. As of July, it was reported to be the platform’s best-selling new game of 2025 thus far—somewhat surprising given that Microsoft continued to charge full price for a game released in 2021.

      There is no doubt that relocating the Horizon Festival to Japan would create a significant stir in the racing game community. Personally, this would capture my interest as I feel Horizon has stagnated over several entries, with developer Playground Games concentrating on crafting unique open worlds for each title while failing to alter much in the game’s structure or driving experience. If a formula works, and they can sell a three-year-old game for $60 despite not being Nintendo, why change it, right?

      However, a Japan-centric Horizon comes with its own set of challenges. Urban areas in these games have often felt like an afterthought. To authentically depict Japan, its densely populated regions would require exceptional detail and complexity. Think about the highways from Tokyo Xtreme Racer and the narrow streets tucked beneath the overpasses. You’d want to include some of those iconic parking spots as well. While FH5's map is a stunningly crafted replica of Mexico, it's relatively easier—of course, in a broad sense—to create vast open spaces like deserts or mountains. Perhaps this is the reason why the current installment has taken so long to develop.

      If Playground can achieve this, it would be spectacular. Just imagine if they also included real Japanese racetracks within the game world—perhaps a Tsukuba here or a Suzuka there. Can we hope for my personal favorite, Sugo? The possibilities, considering Japan’s motorsport culture, are vast, and it’s exciting to think about what could come. This is why we earnestly hope there’s substance behind this alleged leak, rather than fans merely letting their imaginations run wild.

      Do you have any insider knowledge about Forza Horizon 6? Share your insights at [email protected]!