Forza Horizon 6 Surfaces Online Just Days Ahead of Release

Everyone makes mistakes, but Playground Games has stumbled into a blunder that could impact the launch of their highly anticipated racing title, Forza Horizon 6.

Scheduled for release on May 19, Forza Horizon 6 is the latest installment in the beloved multiplayer racing franchise that has become a hallmark of Xbox. This time, players will be racing through the vibrant landscapes of Japan, zooming past iconic sites like Shibuya Crossing, Ginkgo Avenue, and Tokyo Tower. The game promises exciting new features, including Horizon Rush, a fresh event type where players can showcase their skills on challenging obstacle courses, along with enhanced car and environmental audio. All signs pointed to Forza Horizon 6 being one of Playground Games’ most significant launches yet.

However, that launch is now at risk. Reports from gaming and piracy communities indicate that someone at Microsoft may have inadvertently uploaded the PC version of Forza Horizon 6’s preload files to the Steam storefront without proper encryption. Approximately 155 GB of content, which includes thousands of assets, was quickly downloaded by eager users and, as expected, disseminated across various piracy sites. While the files have since been re-encrypted, the damage appears to have already been done.

This isn’t the first time sensitive game content has leaked online; earlier this year, IO Interactive’s James Bond origin story, 007: First Light, had its ending revealed prematurely. Still, this leak is particularly painful for gamers who pre-ordered Forza Horizon 6’s Premium Bundle, which offers four days of early access to the game.

While it’s unlikely that this mishap will derail Forza Horizon 6’s success, leaks can significantly impact the financial outcomes for developers and publishers. The extent of the fallout for Playground Games and Xbox remains to be seen.

Forza Horizon 6 is set to launch on May 19 for Windows PC and Xbox Series X, with a PlayStation 5 version expected to arrive later this year.