Forza Horizon 6 release date seemingly leaked inside Forza Horizon 5 in-game ad

A new in-game ad in the previous title suggests that Forza Horizon 6's release date is in mid-May 2026.

Image via Microsoft Studios
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A new in-game ad in Forza Horizon 5 may have spoiled the surprise of the release date for the upcoming Forza Horizon 6. Said ad was spotted by players this week, claiming that Forza Horizon 6 will be arriving on May 15, 2026, via Premium Edition early access, and May 19 for regular copies.

This ad was first spotted by XboxEra, which showed off an in-game screenshot in Forza Horizon 5 that shared the information. Sure enough, right there in the bulleted list underneath pre-order info, the ad shares the details of the release date. “Early Access - Play 4 days early starting May 15,” the first item states.

Forza Horizon 5 in-game ad for early access and pre-orders of Forza Horizon 6.
Forza Horizon 5 recently began playing an in-game ad for pre-order and early access of Forza Horizon 6, in which a release date is revealed.
Source: XboxEra

It’s hard to know if Turn 10 Studios or Microsoft Studios meant to share the release date for Forza Horizon 6 this way, with little fanfare. It feels likely that the detail slipped through by mistake, but maybe it’s also just teasing the playerbase that is already kicking around in its previous game. Xbox is supposed to have a major Developer Direct next week that includes Forza Horizon 6, so it also feels likely that this info was supposed to be revealed there.

If Forza Horizon 5 is to be believed (and it seems like it should), Forza Horizon 6 will take us to Japan in May 2026 for all new racing excitement and challenges. As we watch for more details, stay tuned to the Forza Horizon topic for more news.

Senior News Editor

TJ Denzer is a player and writer with a passion for games that has dominated a lifetime. He found his way to the Shacknews roster in late 2019 and has worked his way to Senior News Editor since. Between news coverage, he also aides notably in livestream projects like the indie game-focused Indie-licious, the Shacknews Stimulus Games, and the Shacknews Dump. You can reach him at tj.denzer@shacknews.com and also find him on BlueSky @JohnnyChugs.

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