Forza Horizon 6 players hit with bans for playing early
▼ Summary
– Playground Games confirmed the leaked Forza Horizon 6 build was not caused by a pre-load issue and is taking strict enforcement action, including franchise-wide and hardware bans, against those who accessed it.
– SteamDB stated the leak likely came from someone with early access (like a reviewer), not from their platform, and clarified they do not display keys or provide downloads.
– Unencrypted game files were uploaded to the Steam page, allowing some people to download and play a cracked version of the game before its May 19 release.
– A content creator named DVS Squad was banned for 69,895,509 hours (until 9999) after posting a video of himself playing the leaked version without blurring his account name, as verified by Eurogamer.
– Microsoft has a history of issuing severe bans for game piracy, including a 2009 crackdown on console modifications and permanent bans for Gears of War Remake leakers.
A wave of enforcement actions has hit players who gained unauthorized early access to Forza Horizon 6, the upcoming racing title from Playground Games and Microsoft. Following reports of a leaked build circulating online, the developer has confirmed that it is issuing severe penalties, including franchise-wide and hardware bans, to anyone found accessing the game before its official launch on May 19.
Contrary to initial speculation, the leak did not stem from a pre-load error on Steam. Playground Games addressed the situation directly on social media, stating, “We are aware of reports that a build of Forza Horizon 6 has been obtained prior to its release and can confirm this is not the result of a pre-load issue.” The studio added that it is taking strict action against violators and urged fans to wait for the legitimate release date.
SteamDB also released a statement clarifying its role in the incident. The platform explained that Forza Horizon 6 was very likely leaked by someone with early access, such as a reviewer, rather than through a Steam vulnerability. It noted that while a file list appeared on SteamDB around the same time, the service does not display or share keys, nor can it provide downloads.
The leaked files, which were spotted unencrypted on the game’s Steam page, allowed a small number of users to download and play a cracked version of the title. One notable case involves content creator DVS Squad, who uploaded a video of himself playing the leaked build without hiding his account name. A screenshot circulating online shows an in-game message from the Forza Community team informing him of a ban lasting 69,895,509 hours, effectively until December 31, 9999. Eurogamer has verified the legitimacy of this screenshot through the creator’s Discord server.
Microsoft has a long history of taking a hard line against game piracy. In 2009, the company initiated a sweeping wave of bans for console modifications that allowed unauthorized game access. More recently, it permanently banned individuals who leaked Gears of War Remake from Xbox Live services. This latest action reinforces the company’s reputation for not tolerating breaches of its release protocols.
For context, Playground Games recently released an extensive breakdown of Forza Horizon 6, detailing the scale of its Japan-set map, the variety of vehicles available, and the overall design philosophy behind the game. Fans are encouraged to wait for the official launch on May 19 to experience the title as intended.
(Source: Eurogamer.net)
