Forza Horizon 6 Adds Horizon Play, New Modes and Cross-Play

Playground Games revealed Horizon Play, the multiplayer suite for Forza Horizon 6, and confirmed a May 19, 2026 launch for Xbox Series X|S and PC via Microsoft Store and Steam. Premium Edition buyers get early access starting May 15. A PlayStation 5 version is slated for later in 2026, and the studio said Horizon Play will support cross-play across Xbox, PC (Store and Steam), Xbox Cloud Gaming and PS5.

The studio shared an in-game menu showing an XP bar, account level and rank, and a scrollable list of modes. Horizon Play combines competitive events, open-world shared activities and cooperative features under one interface, with both returning modes and new, day-one additions visible in the menu.

Two new competitive modes arrive at launch. Spec Racing puts every competitor in the same car with no custom modifications allowed, and includes races on dirt and paved surfaces so results depend on driver skill. Touge Showdown is a 1v1 format that rotates among five preset mountain routes inspired by Japan’s roads. An online championship cycles continuously through the five routes for back-to-back head-to-head competition. Touge Battles unlock after players reach the Horizon Festival, which Playground Games estimates takes about one hour of play.

Classic modes return at launch. Horizon Racing and The Eliminator are included, with The Eliminator starting all players in a 1984 Honda City. Hide and Seek, which arrived post-launch in the previous game, is available from day one in Horizon 6.

Open-world multiplayer activities are integrated without loading screens or separate matchmaking. Time Attack Circuits and Drag Meets exist in-world with leaderboards. Players can earn co-op LINK skills, display customized cars at Car Meets and join cooperative group events now renamed Stunt Party. EventLab’s track builder gains multiplayer support through Horizon CoLab, allowing players to build together anywhere in Japan’s open world and share community-made events.

A high-level area called Legend Island unlocks for players who reach the highest festival rank. It includes its own Festival Outpost, exclusive events and serves as the starting point for the game’s Goliath race. Steam pre-sales for Forza Horizon 6 have exceeded 500,000 copies ahead of the May 19 release.