Forza Horizon 6 location to show Japan’s “true breadth of beauty”

• The world’s most populous city, Tokyo, will be represented in the Japan-set Forza Horizon 6
• Season changes return, with “more feeling”
• The aim isn’t one-to-one environmental realism, but a curated taste of the nation

It’s official then, Forza Horizon 6 really is set in Japan, and perhaps thanks in part to all those rumours before Horizon 4 and Horizon 5.

“For a long time, Japan has been top of Horizon fans’ wish lists, so we’re excited to finally be bringing this much-requested location to players in Forza Horizon 6,” explains Art Director Don Arceta to Xbox Wire.

So it seems the fandom helped influence the idea. But impetus and execution are often poles apart.

The teaser cinematic, showing during a Tokyo Games Show showcase, only highlighted Mount Fuji. In fact, we think the shot is taken from somewhere looking across Lake Kawaguchi to the active volcano.

Nearby, naturally, is the Fuji Speedway, and Tokyo is not far away – but, according to its creators, the playable environment will combine the best elements of Japan, from across the entire nation, into one condensed area.

“While we are not necessarily trying to recreate Japan and its environments like for like, our goal has always been to capture the country’s unique cultural essence and present it back in the most Horizon way possible,” continues Arceta.

This is at odds with a key revival, Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown, which recreates its Hong Kong setting as close to one-to-one as possible (with tweaks to help gameplay where appropriate).

Tokyo included as Horizon 6’s main city area

Forza Horizon 4, in particular, was set in ‘Great Britain’, but cherry-picked countryside elements from the Cotswolds, the Lake District, the Scottish Highlands and Edinburgh. It missed places like London, for example.

However, for Horizon 6, Tokyo – the world’s most populous metropolitan area – is confirmed according to Arceta.

“From the neon lights and towering buildings of Tokyo City – one of our most detailed and layered environments to date – to the serenity and natural beauty of Japan’s rural and mountain areas, we think players will be blown away by the open world of Japan that we have built.

“While we’re not announcing too much in terms of detail right now, we’re excited to show fans the true breadth of beauty – both natural and urban environments – that Japan has to offer.”

Seasonal changes remain a key feature

Since the aforementioned Horizon 4, carrying into Horizon 5, seasonal changes in the game alter the weather and surroundings – think autumnal leaves, bright sunny skies and snow, depending on the time of year.

This feature is also confirmed for the next series instalment, however, in an expanded way that’ described as a more feelsome way.

“The team has also been able to build a system where seasonal changes truly inform the world – how spring, summer, autumn, and winter subtly shift tone, activity, and sound,” explains Forza Horizon 6 Cultural Consultant, Kyoko Yamashita.

“[We’re] also really proud of the attention to everyday details: ambient audio like station chimes or summer wind bells that instantly place you without a caption.”

Of note, activity change could perhaps see denser traffic during certain times of year, or perhaps during a rainy season. Certainly, we’d expect nothing less than a profusion of cherry blossom in spring…

More information and a first look at Forza Horizon 6 is expected in “early 2026” ahead of its initial release on PC and Xbox Series X|S. A PlayStation 5 release is confirmed for a later date.