Forza Horizon 6 Recreated Japan for Driving

Design Director Torben Ellert and Art Director Don Arceta led development to adapt Japanese landmarks and landscapes for driving gameplay. Forza Horizon 6 opens May 19 on Xbox Series X|S, PC and Cloud and will be available day one on Xbox Game Pass.

The map spans snow‑covered alpine roads, coastal fishing villages and a dense Tokyo City. Team members adjusted road access and sightlines so players can approach, park and photograph many sites from a vehicle. A new Journal feature tracks explored areas with a fog‑of‑war map and lets players document points of interest and capture photos for a collection.

The developers describe the game world as an interpretation of Japan rather than a literal recreation. Arceta said the design for Nachi Falls and the nearby Kumano Nachi Taisha Grand Shrine preserves the familiar view of the red temple with the waterfall, while arranging roads so the scene can be appreciated from a car. Ellert noted that gameplay was added around such spaces, including a hidden XP board behind Nachi Falls.

The team worked with cultural consultant Kyoko Yamashita to avoid disrespectful interactions with heritage sites. At Hirosaki Castle, cherry blossom trees are preserved as protected elements that players cannot destroy. Ruriko‑ji’s five‑tiered pagoda and other national treasures were modeled to retain their appearance while permitting vehicle access on peripheral roads.

Village environments were rebuilt to capture atmosphere rather than exact street layouts. For Ine Fishing Village designers emphasized boathouses and koinobori flags and provided road access that supports the waterfront view. For Shirakawa‑go the focus was on steep thatched roofs and heavy winter snow; the game’s weekly season cycle changes weather and track conditions so locations like the Shirakawa Circuit play differently across spring, summer, autumn and winter.

Tokyo City is the series’ largest urban area to date and is presented as distinct districts with contrasting characters. Landmarks such as Shibuya Crossing and Ginkgo Avenue appear close together to reflect real geography, while neighborhoods like Akihabara and Daikoku are given separate visual and traffic patterns to create contrast between busy retail streets and quieter residential areas.

Additional driving content includes the Hokobu Time Circuit, designed as a nod to grassroots valley track culture, and the Urakawa Space Center, included in the campaign as a modern landmark. The game features a Discover Japan path with Day Trip missions, more than 550 licensed cars, customizable player homes and garages, and multiplayer modes such as Time Attack, Drag Meets and Car Meets.

The Premium Edition grants early access beginning May 15, VIP membership and a multi‑week car pass; the standard edition follows the usual retail release and both editions are playable via Xbox Game Pass on launch. Accessibility options listed by the developers include high‑contrast modes, a car proximity radar, American and British Sign Language support and an AutoDrive feature.