Playground Games has officially confirmed that the PS5 version of Forza Horizon 6 will not launch in 2026. The open-world arcade racing game, set in Japan, will arrive on PlayStation 5 on January 26, 2027. The delay applies only to this version—the game has been available on PC and Xbox platforms since May.

Alongside the new release date, details have been announced about early access, the first paid expansion, and a free update. Information has also been provided about the planned PS5 graphics modes, while cross-play and cross-progression across different platforms have been confirmed.

PS5 version will launch in January 2027

The PS5 release had been expected in 2026, but earlier reports of its delay have now been confirmed. Playground Games announced the exact new date on the official Forza website. No reason for the delay was provided.

The standard PS5 version is scheduled to launch on January 26, while Premium Edition buyers will be able to start playing on January 21. Players who choose the more expensive edition will therefore receive early access five days ahead of the standard release. The source states that the Premium Edition costs £110.

The status of the PC and Xbox versions remains unchanged by this announcement. They were released in May, meaning the game will already have been available on those platforms for several months by the time it debuts on PS5.

First paid expansion will arrive alongside early access

The first paid expansion for Forza Horizon 6 will also launch on January 21, when PS5 early access begins. It will be included with the Premium Edition, meaning buyers of that edition will receive the expansion as part of the package.

Neither the expansion’s name nor its content has been revealed yet. The only confirmed details are its release date, that it will be paid content, and that it will be included with the Premium Edition.

A free update for all players is also scheduled for the same day. Playground Games has not yet detailed what it will contain. The paid expansion and the free update will be two separate releases arriving on January 21, but no further information about either has been provided.

Two PS5 graphics modes detailed

According to the announcement, the PS5 version of Forza Horizon 6 will offer a choice of two performance modes. Quality mode will target 4K resolution at 30 frames per second, while Performance mode will target 60 frames per second.

The source does not specify the resolution of Performance mode. Only its target of 60 FPS is mentioned, so no firm conclusions can be drawn about its other visual settings.

Cross-play and cross-progression across platforms

Despite arriving later, the PS5 version will not be separated from the other Forza Horizon 6 platforms. The game will support cross-play between different systems, allowing PS5 owners to play alongside the PC and Xbox communities.

The ability to continue the same progression across supported platforms has also been confirmed. This will allow players to carry on with their game on another system instead of creating separate progression for each platform.

Player-created content will also be available across platforms. The source specifically mentions car liveries and tuning setups. This means such community creations will not be restricted to a single platform and can be used across different versions of Forza Horizon 6.

Open-world racing in Japan

Forza Horizon 6 is an open-world arcade racing game set in Japan.

Eurogamer awarded the game five stars. Reviewer Dom called it a standout even among an already excellent selection of racing games and said that Playground Games had reached its peak with this project.

The review also connects the sixth instalment to the original Forza Horizon, which launched in October 2012. In Dom’s view, after 14 years, Forza Horizon 6 finally fulfils the promises made by the original game.