Forza Horizon 5’s holiday-themed updates add six new cars

The next two Forza Horizon 5 updates have been detailed by developer Playground Games, with one update in December and another in January covering the holiday season.

Horizon Holiday Mix-up Festival Playlist – December 2024

Starting 5th December 2024, the Horizon Holiday Mix-up update is where the majority of changes and new content will land, with a lighter update (as is tradition) in January 2025.

Five of the new cars will be found in this particular Festival Playlist. There are also set to be two, non-new, series rewards:

• BMW i4 ‘22  – 80 points
• Audi RS4 Avant ‘18 – 160 points

The current generation Nissan Z is already in Forza Horizon 5, but now you will be able to unlock the Nismo variant for a limited time by completing a specific ‘Nissan Easy’ championship next week.

This includes a distinct body kit, suspension upgrade and more power compared to the base-level Z.

From a sportscar to a luxury barge, the Bentley Flying Spur is for plutocrats and land-owners to ride around in the back of. This is the second new car of the playlist and the first to be unlocked through points acquisition.

Next up, is the Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG from 2006. Supercharged V8 up-front, incongruous estate, or wagon, at the rear. 

Which is a very similar formula used by Cadillac for its CTS-V Sport Wagen – a strange, and very rare, car made in the 2010s. 6.2-litre V8, supercharger and a big trunk. It can be unlocked during week 4.

After the Mercedes and before the Cadillac comes the BMW M5 CS (main article image), the most hardcore M5 ever. No supercharger here, but it’s still a big, brutish, luxury saloon turned into a sportscar-ish. AC Schnitzer body parts can also be added.

As per each December, all seasons are just ‘winter’ for this update.

• Horizon Backstage Pass – Week 1 – 40 points
• Bentley Flying Spur W12 2021 – Week 1 – 20 points – new
• Nissan Z Nismo 2024 – Week 1 – Complete the ‘Nissan Eazy’ Seasonal Championship during Week 1  of the Horizon Holidays Mix-up Festival Playlist between 5th and 12th of December 2024 – new
• Horizon Backstage Pass – Week 2 – 40 points
• Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG Wagon 2006 – Week 2– 20 points – new
• Horizon Backstage Pass – Week 3 – 40 points
• BMW M5 CS 2022 – Week 3 – 20 points – new
• Horizon Backstage Pass – Week 4 – 40 points
• Cadillac VTS-V Sport Wagon 2014 – Week 4 – 20 points – new

Alternate festive stadiums

During the month, Forza Horizon 5’s stadium will be in two flavours, each appearing in alternative weeks and returning layouts from prior updates.

There’s the Winter Wonderland Stadium, with snow, trees and giant candy canes, then the Ice Rink.

Showcase remix and fresh outfit

A ‘Classic Cinema Outfit’ which looks like a gingerbread biscuit can be unlocked by completing the ‘Snow Business’ Seasonal Championship during the fourth week of this playlist.

Then, there’s a fresh Showcase event remix, using the existing One a Wing and a Prayer event. This time, the Ford Escort is replaced with the recently added Porsche 911 ‘Rallye’, aka Dakar. The event is available during Week 3.

Forza Horizon 5 December 2024 update changelog

• Fixed the issue causing backfire to appear on the side of the 1970 GMC Jimmy instead of its back
• Fixed the 2022 Cadillac CT5V Blackwing’s roll cage obstructing driver and rear window view
• The logo on the 2021 Lamborghini Sian Roadster’s rear wing will no longer appear to be floating
• The 2022 Gordon Murray T.50 will now appear under the “European Hypercar” category
• Fixed an issue with the “Unbeatable Street Racing” Accolade which didn’t match its menu description
• Fixed an issue with the “On The Naughty List” Accolade which sometimes wasn’t unlocking after photographing the 1997 Lamborghini Diablo SV
• The 2023 Porsche 911 GT3 RS now shows the accurate badge on the wheels, and the silhouette displayed on the infotainment screen has been fixed

Horizon Extreme Festival Playlist – January 2025

Beginning on Thursday 2nd January 2025, the Horizon Extreme playlist is much more subdued, with only one new car being added.

• Deberti Chevrolet C10 Slayer  – Week 1– 20 points – new

This is an old truck, heavily modified, slammed and offering 1,000bhp. Oh, it also has six wheels. Because, of course, it does.

All other cars in the Festival Playlist are repeats.

Stadium change and EventLab tweaks

Alongside the fresh set of Festival Playlist challenges, the stadium will be turned into a stunt park and four new EventLab Build Stubs (read, promotional flyer) will be placed across the Mexican map.

• Volcan Build Stub
• Montaña Build Stub
• Dunas Blancas Build Stub
• Sierra Verde Build Stub

Into 2025 and beyond…

February’s Festival Playlist will be dubbed ‘Midnight Muscle’, and will usher in the return of the extended night cycle, fresh events and the ability to set a game-start screen.