Here’s Why We Expect A Forza Horizon 6 Announcement Soon

After the longest gap between Forza Horizon games, all signs point to a major announcement shortly. But there might be an interesting twist…

It’s now well over three years since Forza Horizon 5 hit the shelves, which is already the longest break in the series’ history.

While Horizon’s developer, Playground Games, still hasn’t officially announced Forza Horizon 6 yet, it’s been hard to ignore the pretty big and surprising moves we’ve seen happening lately.

We had the shock PlayStation announcement, Playground Games opened a third studio, and their other major project (Fable 4) is finally launching in late 2025. Given this, it’s more likely than ever that the next chapter of Horizon is just around the corner.

Let’s look at the other recent developments that make it likely the Forza Horizon 6 announcement is coming sooner than you might think…

The Beginning Of The End For FH5

Microsoft recently dropped a massive bundle for Forza Horizon 5 – every single DLC car pack wrapped up in one neat package (52 cars in total, if you’re counting!) The timing feels significant, especially with all the other recent Forza news.

Released in January with a 33% discount, the Ultimate Car Pack Collection feels very much like a “farewell” package. Bundling all the DLC together typically signals that Playground Games is done rolling out new content.

Admittedly, we’re still yet to get Horizon Realms, but it’s basically just a way to replay old seasonal events. (Not exactly the groundbreaking news fans were hoping for!)

The pattern of wrapping up content makes even more sense, considering that Forza Horizon 4 was delisted from stores in December. With the recycled updates, bundled DLC, and FH4 delisting, it’s clear Playground Games is busy prepping for something bigger.

Microsoft’s PlayStation Strategy

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll know that Microsoft dropped a bombshell in January by announcing they’re bringing FH5 to Sony’s PlayStation, following years of speculation. This could be part of a clever marketing strategy.

While this finally gives PlayStation owners a reason to get excited, it builds up hype for what is currently a pretty stagnant game. Which, as we discussed, isn’t likely to get any future content.

Think about it – Microsoft’s giving PlayStation fans a taste of Horizon right when FH5’s content cycle is nearing the end. They’re building interest in the franchise among a whole new audience, but we fully expect them to keep Forza Horizon 6 as an Xbox and PC exclusive at launch.

By the time PlayStation players are craving FH6, Playground Games will probably be gearing up to announce the shiny new successor. And what better way to build hype for a new game than by getting more players invested in the series?

In our opinion, the timing just makes too much sense. Microsoft’s effectively saying, “Hey, PlayStation fans, here’s a taste of what’s to come” while quietly preparing to roll out its big Xbox exclusive.

If you’re waiting for the PlayStation release, check out our Fastest Cars in FH5 and in-depth How To Drift guides to prepare for launch day!

Fable 4 Is Due To Arrive Soon

Playground Games has been juggling two massive projects. While one team’s been keeping Forza Horizon 5 ticking along (and likely working on FH6, too), most of the studio’s focus has been on the upcoming fantasy RPG, Fable 4.

The development team will soon be freed up with Fable 4 confirmed for a 2025 release (perfect timing, huh?) Once Fable is out, Playground Games can fully shift their attention to the Horizon series.

Again, this timing lines up perfectly with everything else we’ve discussed. The Ultimate Car Pack wrapping things up, FH5 heading to PlayStation, and now Fable’s release window all point to the same thing – Forza Horizon 6 being next on their agenda.

Trends In Horizon’s Past Release Patterns

Looking back over the history of Horizon, Playground Games has been pretty consistent with their announcements. Every single game in the series until now was revealed in either May or June, typically just a few months before release.

The pattern went like clockwork: Horizon 1 in May 2012, Horizon 2 in May 2014, then Horizon 3, 4, and 5, all dropping their big reveals in June.

But here’s where things get different. The gap between releases has grown significantly since we’re already over three years into Forza Horizon 5’s lifecycle.

Horizon’s first four games were released every two years, almost like clockwork. However, the pattern changed with FH5’s three-year gap, and we’ll need to wait even longer this time around.

The extended development time makes sense since Microsoft shifted to longer development cycles for their big games, aiming for 4-6 years instead of the usual 2-3. We’ll be into June before we know it, which aligns perfectly with a certain major gaming event…

Will Horizon 6 Be Announced At Summer Game Fest?

Summer Game Fest is shaping up to be pretty significant, with many rumors circulating that this is when we’ll finally see a Forza Horizon 6 announcement. The event kicks off June 6 at the YouTube Theater in Los Angeles, promising “video game announcements, surprises, and reveals” during its two-hour showcase.

Let’s be honest – the timing couldn’t be more perfect. As we just mentioned, every previous Horizon game was announced between May and June, and with Summer Game Fest landing right in the sweet spot, it’s looking increasingly likely we’ll be in for a Horizon-flavored treat.

But (as you probably guessed), there might be a small catch that could affect the game’s actual release date…

GTA VI Might Throw A Spanner In The Works

It’s impossible to ignore Grand Theft Auto VI, which Take-Two just confirmed is still on track for Fall 2025 (although we seem to hear different rumors every week.)

Rockstar’s latest masterpiece will undoubtedly dominate pretty much every gaming landscape post-release, which could seriously impact the plans for Forza Horizon 6.

History shows that most publishers naturally try to avoid releasing their big titles anywhere near GTA. (We wouldn’t want to compete with the most anticipated game of all time, either!)

While the typical pattern for Horizon is announcing in June and releasing around September/October, we expect a different strategy this time. It’s probably wise to wait it out a little!

Even if we do get the Summer Game Fest announcement, expect a 2026 release to dodge Grand Theft Auto. We just hope the GTA delay rumors won’t come true, as it’ll likely mean more stalling for Horizon (and just about every other anticipated title!)

Putting The Pieces Together

With all these clues perfectly stacking up – from what seems to be the final car pack, the shock PlayStation release, Fable’s launch window, and the Summer Game Fest timing – it’s looking increasingly likely we’ll see Forza Horizon 6 announced in 2025. We then expect to have to wait until 2026 to actually get our hands on it.

Right now, it seems likely that the official Forza Horizon 6 release date lies in the hands of what Rockstar decides with Grand Theft Auto 6. If it releases in Fall 2025 as planned, we expect to see Horizon 6 arrive in early 2026. If GTA gets delayed, we’ll likely see a knock-on effect pushing it to later in the year.

Either way, the pressure’s on for Playground Games to deliver something special this time around. Many fans feel that the recent entries haven’t quite captured the magic of earlier titles, and there are even whispers that FH6 could be the final game in the series.

The team has shown it’s more than capable of creating incredible racing games, so if they can nail the formula again and unleash the potential we know Horizon has, we might be in for something truly special. And hey, with all those recent Japanese cars showing up in Mexico, who knows where we might finally end up next?

If you’re interested in more details, where we cover absolutely everything we know so far (including new updates as they’re announced), head over to our Forza Horizon 6 Release Date article.

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