Is Forza Horizon 6 Finally Coming To Japan?

Horizon fans are buzzing with speculation about the next instalment in the series, with potential locations being the hot topic.

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When we recently discussed possible release dates for a Forza Horizon 6 announcement on our Facebook page, the comments section exploded with hundreds of responses. However, almost everyone wanted to discuss one thing – where the series will take us next.

Given that it’s already been over three years since Forza Horizon 5 first launched in November 2021, it’s already the longest gap between releases in the franchise’s history. Previous games never went more than three years between releases.

Recent moves from Microsoft and Playground Games continue to fuel speculation, from the delisting of Forza Horizon 4 to the release of the Ultimate Car Pack Collection for FH5. Bundling all of the existing DLCs together into one package is common at the end of the lifespan of a game.

Of course, this is combined with the huge bombshell that Forza Horizon 5 is coming to PlayStation shortly, which continues to paint a pretty clear picture.

The Spring PS5 release could be perfectly timed to build hype for the next chapter before rolling out the Microsoft-exclusive Forza Horizon 6 (for now, at least) shortly after. This would give Xbox fans something to grin about once again.

There’s never been a better time for Microsoft to wrap things up with Horizon 5 as they prepare for the imminent announcement of Horizon 6. However, the big question remains – where will it take place?

While several people in our Facebook post stated that Forza Horizon 6 is “confirmed” for Germany, that’s not the case. There’s no solid evidence besides a few rumors supporting that (not yet, anyway!) So, in the meantime, let’s look at the options.

The series has already visited Colorado, Southern Europe, Australia, Britain, and Mexico, and fans are eager to explore somewhere new. Let’s look at the most likely destinations for the next Horizon Festival…

Why Japan Is The Perfect Horizon 6 Location

We know what you’re thinking “Ugh, those drifting guys are talking about Japan again…” But hear us out. It makes perfect sense.

The recent success of Tokyo Xtreme Racer (which doesn’t involve drifting!) proves just how much fun driving and racing through Japan can be. Imagine that combined with the potential that Playground Games are capable of delivering.

Japan’s hugely varied terrain and roads offer endless possibilities for both racing and drifting enthusiasts. You could be racing down the Wangan highway one minute, then drifting through the legendary 69-turn Mount Iwaki touge roads the next.

Japan’s huge interconnected highway system, including the Wangan, C1, and C2 routes, provides plenty of high-speed racing opportunities. While they might not be the Autobahn, we’ll discuss that point shortly.

While recent games like CarX Drift Racing 3 and the early release version of JDM: Japanese Drift Master (Rise of the Scorpion) have already shown how much fans love drifting in Japan, Forza Horizon 6 could take it to the next level.

Japan is a drifting paradise, and it’s not just because of the iconic touge roads made famous by Initial D. It also has a vast automotive history and culture beyond drifting.

It also offers an insanely diverse range of terrain and environments which (let’s be honest) was lacking in Mexico.

You’ll get to go from Tokyo’s neon-lit streets to the rural mountainous countryside. The roads will be lined with cherry blossoms in the spring, and you can expect plenty of snow in the winter.

Combined with the dynamic weather, this would provide stunning visuals and plenty of unique racing challenges all year round.

It’s also a perfect chance to show off more of Japan’s epic car culture, from the rare 90s JDM cars to the lesser-known custom street racers.

Imagine building your own Bosozoku-style ride (or Kaido racer) with wild custom bodywork, then scraping your bonkers custom exhaust on the tight and twisty touge guardrails. The possibilities are endless!

Japan has so much more to offer beyond the cars and roads, too. Its rich history and stunning architecture would provide the perfect backdrop.

You’ll get to visit places like the iconic Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto or race through the streets of Shibuya in Tokyo. The transition from modern skyscrapers to traditional temples will keep things fascinating, which was another aspect we felt was missing in FH5.

Horizon fans have been endlessly crying out for Japan to be the location since FH3, and we’re (once again) keeping our fingers crossed that Forza Horizon 6 could be the game that finally brings the JDM dream to life.

We can’t wait to see what Playground Games has in store if they do.

Wait… Wasn’t The FH6 Location “Confirmed” As Germany?

You’ve likely seen the clickbait YouTube videos floating around, claiming, “FORZA HORIZON 6 GERMANY CONFIRMED!” (Always with the caps lock!)

While Germany sounds (somewhat) great on paper, there’s not much substance behind these rumors. Well… Yet, at least.

The main ‘evidence’ comes from social media rumors and some German Forza accounts being created. However, both the German and Spanish accounts were created after Forza Horizon 5’s launch, so the theory doesn’t really hold up.

In our opinion (after far too much research), the German FH6 rumors have about as much credibility as any other location speculation right now.

Germany would be an awesome location, though. You’ll get to shred your tires through the Bavarian countryside, past ancient castles, and carving through the Black Forest.

It’d be even more epic if Playground Games could pull a Forza Horizon 2 move and include parts of the Swiss Alps!

The historic small towns with timber-frame houses and modern cities could create a great contrast. The winding roads through the dense forests would provide technical driving challenges similar to Japan’s touge. (Even if neither of these are quite the same!)

Let’s not forget Oktoberfest, either – the festival atmosphere could potentially blend perfectly with Horizon’s party vibe. (But don’t drink drive, folks!)

We’ll be honest that we’re not getting too excited about the Autobahn prospect that many keep talking about, though. While the unlimited speed might sound exciting in the real world, it’s worth remembering that speed limits don’t exist in Horizon games anyway.

I mean, when was the last time you got a speeding ticket in FH5?

While the Nürburgring would be an amazing addition, for sure, it’d probably get tiring pretty quickly. Thankfully there are some awesome roads surrounding the track to keep things interesting…

But, is it just us, or is this all starting to sound a little familiar?

Why We’re Hoping It’s Not Germany…

Remember the familiar feeling we mentioned? It’s from one of the biggest recent stories in gaming, with Assetto Corsa EVO announcing an open-world German mode with a huge 1,600 square-kilometer free-roam map of the Eifel region, including the Nürburgring.

To put the size in perspective, Forza Horizon 5’s map is around 107 square kilometers, making AC EVO’s playground about 15 times larger! Kunos isn’t cutting corners, either – they’re using LIDAR scanning to make the entire region as accurate as possible.

Let’s be honest – having two of the most exciting open-world offerings in recent years set in Germany would be pretty disappointing, (and awkward!) While the games offer completely different experiences, we’d appreciate a little more variety.

The first phase of AC EVO’s free-roam mode is set to arrive this summer, with the map expanding over time.

Imagine if EVO launches their German free-roam mode, only to be shortly followed by what could be an announcement of Forza Horizon 6 at Summer Games Fest 2025, also set in Germany…

Let’s just say we sure hope Playground Games has something else up their sleeve. We’re with the majority of fans in hoping that ‘something’ is Japan!

While we wait for more news, make sure you bookmark our Forza Horizon 6 latest news article, where we’ll keep you up to date with all the details as they’re announced.

Looking for something to play while you wait for Horizon 6? We highly recommend checking out the free online browser-based drifting game Drift Hunters MAX.

It features a Drift Attack mode with clipping points and scoring zones, an open-world mode with AI traffic, and cloud save functionality for cross-device progress. That’s right – you can play it on just about any device!

Media Credits

Written by Joe Terrell

Joe is an avid writer and car enthusiast. When he's not cruising the streets alongside his friends in his Nissan Silvia S15, he's drifting on his VR racing simulator.

Joe's passion for cars is always on display. With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the automotive industry, he hopes his writing conveys his excitement and knowledge of cars and games.

Joe's work has been featured on many platforms including drivetribe.com, 180sx.club, carthrottle.com, smartdrivinggames.com, smartbikegames.com, databox.com and ceoblognation.com.

When he's not behind the wheel or at his keyboard, he's likely daydreaming of his ultimate ride - the legendary Lexus LFA.

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