Forza Horizon 6 Leaked Online More Than a Week Before Launch

Recent gaming leaks have predominantly centered around Nintendo, which has struggled to keep its major Switch titles under wraps. However, it seems Microsoft has joined the fray with the recent leak of Forza Horizon 6, which reportedly surfaced online for download over the weekend, a full nine days before its official release.

According to various reports, the Forza Horizon 6 leak has been making waves across the internet, with claims that the leaked version has been cracked to run independently of Steam or Game Pass on PC. Users on Reddit suggest that this mishap occurred during the game’s upload to Steam’s backend, where a developer allegedly forgot to encrypt the data for Build 23118904 on May 10. Those with the know-how managed to intercept the build, get it running, and subsequently released it online.

This situation appears to be confirmed by the influx of gameplay videos popping up on YouTube in the last 12 hours, and it’s likely that Microsoft is not pleased. Expect to see these videos facing copyright strikes as the company scrambles to regain control over the situation.

There was a planned way for players to access Forza Horizon 6 early through the $100 Premium Edition, which allowed access four days before the main launch. This version unlocked the game on May 15, giving those willing to pay a premium a full weekend of gameplay ahead of the standard $70 edition. Delaying the release of a fully finished game to extract more cash from eager fans is a frustrating tactic, and doing so over a weekend adds an extra layer of annoyance. A leak like this could undermine the strategy of monetizing pre-release excitement.

That said, the leak is unlikely to have a significant impact on Microsoft’s bottom line. Many potential players who wouldn’t normally pirate a game might not even know where to find it or how to run it without a launcher. With rumors suggesting that Forza Horizon 6 has already sold half a million copies on Steam alone, the game is still poised to generate substantial revenue. Additionally, it will boost Xbox Game Pass subscriptions, as the Japan-set installment of this beloved franchise will be available on day one, expanding its audience to PlayStation 5 players as well.

Pre-release leaks carry more weight than post-launch ones, as there’s no legitimate way to play the game actively before its official release. However, Microsoft finds itself in a tricky position; moving the release date up isn’t feasible without refunding those who paid the premium for early access.