Forza Horizon 6 release date, launch times, and Early Access details
▼ Summary
– Forza Horizon 6 is set to release in under a week on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Steam, with day-one availability on Xbox Game Pass.
– Early Access for Premium Edition buyers begins on May 14 in the US (9:01 p.m. PT) and May 15 at 12:01 a.m. local time in other regions.
– The full release launches on May 18 in the US (9:01 p.m. PT) and May 19 at 12:01 a.m. local time globally.
– The Premium Edition costs $119.99, but a deal at Loaded reduces it to $92.99; the Standard Edition is discounted to $54.39.
– Xbox players can use the “New Zealand trick” by changing their console’s location to New Zealand to play up to 16 hours early.
Forza Horizon 6 is almost here, and the wait is nearly over. Set in Japan with cutting-edge driving systems and stunning audiovisual presentation, this installment is shaping up to be the best in the series yet. As one of 2026’s biggest games,and arguably the biggest Xbox title of the year,it arrives in less than a week, with fans worldwide eagerly counting down.
The game will be playable on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and Steam, with day-one availability on Xbox Game Pass and full Xbox Play Anywhere support. Until now, Xbox and developer Playground Games kept specific launch times under wraps, but on Wednesday morning, the complete release schedule was finally revealed. You can now see exactly when you’ll be able to start playing in your time zone.
Here’s the breakdown for Early Access (available to Premium Edition buyers) and the full release across all platforms and regions.
Forza Horizon 6 Early Access Launch Times
| Time Zone | Xbox Launch Time | Steam Launch Time | |———–|——————|——————-| | PT | May 14, 9:01 p.m. | May 15, 12:01 a.m. | | CST | May 14, 11:01 p.m. | May 15, 12:01 a.m. | | ET | May 15, 12:01 a.m. | May 15, 12:01 a.m. | | BRT | May 15, 12:01 a.m. | May 15, 12:01 a.m. | | BST | May 15, 12:01 a.m. | May 15, 12:01 a.m. | | CEST | May 15, 12:01 a.m. | May 15, 12:01 a.m. | | KST | May 15, 12:01 a.m. | May 15, 12:01 a.m. | | JST | May 15, 12:01 a.m. | May 15, 12:01 a.m. | | AEST | May 15, 12:01 a.m. | May 15, 12:01 a.m. | | NZST | May 15, 12:01 a.m. | May 15, 12:01 a.m. |
Forza Horizon 6 Full Launch Times
| Time Zone | Xbox Launch Time | Steam Launch Time | |———–|——————|——————-| | PT | May 18, 9:01 p.m. | May 19, 12:01 a.m. | | CST | May 18, 11:01 p.m. | May 19, 12:01 a.m. | | ET | May 19, 12:01 a.m. | May 19, 12:01 a.m. | | BRT | May 19, 12:01 a.m. | May 19, 12:01 a.m. | | BST | May 19, 12:01 a.m. | May 19, 12:01 a.m. | | CEST | May 19, 12:01 a.m. | May 19, 12:01 a.m. | | KST | May 19, 12:01 a.m. | May 19, 12:01 a.m. | | JST | May 19, 12:01 a.m. | May 19, 12:01 a.m. | | AEST | May 19, 12:01 a.m. | May 19, 12:01 a.m. | | NZST | May 19, 12:01 a.m. | May 19, 12:01 a.m. |
The launch schedule is refreshingly straightforward. In the US, Xbox players can start Early Access on May 14 at 9:01 p.m. PT / 11:01 p.m. CST, while the full release goes live on May 18 at the same times. Everywhere else, including Steam, the game unlocks at 12:01 a.m. local time on May 15 for Early Access and May 19 for the standard launch.
If you want to get behind the wheel early, preordering the Premium Edition grants four days of early access. At $119.99, it’s a steep investment, but a great deal at Loaded drops it to just $92.99. There’s also a solid discount on the Standard Edition, bringing it from $69.99 down to $54.39 at the same retailer.
For Xbox players, there’s another trick: the “New Zealand method.” Change your console’s location to New Zealand in system settings, and you can start playing when it’s midnight there,up to 12 to 16 hours earlier than in the US.
With Forza Horizon 6 already a Steam Top Seller, it’s clear this will be a massive hit. Are you ready to hit the roads of Japan? Share your thoughts in the comments or join the discussion on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral.
(Source: Windows Central)
