It’s not the metropolitan crossroads that are the biggest draw of Forza Horizon 6. The wild corners of Japan, recreated by British studio Playground Games, have already elicited a storm of admiration from local journalists during closed screenings. Now, anyone can appreciate the scale of the work thanks to fresh gameplay from the Xbox Series X.
YouTube player MotoGamesTV has released an excellent video in which he embarks on a mountain adventure behind the wheel of a Toyota GR Yaris (2021). And here, the map demonstrates perhaps its greatest advantage over Forza Horizon 5—it doesn’t feel like a single, gigantic arena, tailored to the needs of the controversial “Liquidator” mode. There are switchbacks, dense forests, and sharp elevation changes. The environment is interesting and very diverse. It’s a living world, not a functional testing ground.
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What exactly has been improved in Forza Horizon 6 on Xbox and PC?
The developers at Playground Games haven’t just reimagined the landscape. They seem to have taken the technical side seriously, and it shows.
Pop-ins have almost disappeared.
In Forza Horizon 5, the sudden appearance of bushes and objects on the horizon was occasionally annoying. In Forza Horizon 6, this effect has been reduced to an absolute minimum. Barely noticeable artifacts still occur (it’s an early build, after all), but the progress is colossal. For fans of photo mode and high-speed racing, this is absolutely crucial news.
A sound you’ll believe.
The Toyota GR Yaris engine roars exactly as you’d expect from a three-cylinder turbo monster. Playground Games has completely upped the audio ante on all fronts. The noise of tires on wet asphalt, the whistle of oncoming air, the crunch of gravel—it’s now heard not as background noise, but as part of the race. The British team clearly spared no expense on the soundstage.
A fly in the ointment in Early Access
Not everything is perfect yet. For example, the tachometer in the Toyota has a life of its own and doesn’t quite reflect the RPMs. However, reviewers were warned from the start that this was a buggy version. These minor issues will likely be ironed out by the mid-May release on Xbox and PC.
The bottom line?
Judging by the gameplay from MotoGamesTV, Forza Horizon 6 is making a strong bid to be the most visually compelling racing game of 2026. If Playground Games polishes up the remaining technical rough edges, we’ll be treated to a benchmark sequel—beautiful, varied, and with the right sound. The Japanese countryside beckons. All we have to do is wait until May.
