Forza Horizon 6 is already setting major records before its full launch. The newest entry in the long-running open-world racing franchise entered early access on May 15 for Premium Edition owners, and the initial response has been massive across both player numbers and critical reception.
Set in Japan for the first time in franchise history, the game has quickly become one of the biggest gaming launches of 2026 so far. While the standard edition release is still scheduled for May 19, early access alone has already pushed the title past previous franchise milestones.
Steam Player Count Smashes Previous Franchise Records
According to SteamDB tracking, Forza Horizon 6 reached a peak concurrent player count of 178,009 players during its Premium Edition early access period. That figure makes it the highest Steam peak ever recorded for a Forza Horizon title.
The achievement becomes even more notable when compared to Forza Horizon 5, which previously held the franchise record with a Steam peak of 81,096 players. Forza Horizon 6 has more than doubled that number before the full public launch has even begun.
Many players and analysts view this as a strong indicator that the full May 19 release could push the game even further beyond expectations. Since the current playerbase only consists of Premium Edition buyers willing to pay extra for early access, the broader release is expected to introduce a significantly larger audience over the coming days.
Unlike previous concerns surrounding staggered platform launches affecting statistics, the current numbers appear to reflect genuine player demand and hype surrounding the new entry.
Japan Setting Continues To Generate Massive Interest
The move to Japan has long been one of the most requested settings in the franchise’s history, and early reactions suggest Playground Games may have delivered exactly what fans hoped for.
Players have been praising the game’s detailed recreation of Japanese highways, mountain roads, countryside routes, neon-lit city environments, and weather systems. The combination of modern urban areas and scenic rural landscapes appears to have resonated strongly with longtime fans of both arcade racers and Japanese car culture.
The setting also allows the franchise to lean heavily into tuner culture, drifting events, mountain racing, and iconic automotive inspirations that many players have wanted to see represented in the series for years.
Critical Reception Places FH6 Among 2026’s Highest Rated Games
Critical reviews for Forza Horizon 6 have also been extremely strong. The game currently holds a Top Critic Average of 91 on OpenCritic, placing it among the best-reviewed releases of 2026 so far.
Only two other games this year have reportedly managed to cross the 90-point threshold on OpenCritic: Lost and Found Co. and Pokemon Pokopia.
That performance immediately places Forza Horizon 6 into early Game of the Year discussions, especially given the strong reception from both critics and players simultaneously.
Reviewers have largely praised the game’s map design, visual quality, vehicle handling, soundtrack selection, and expanded event systems. Many also point toward the game’s technical presentation as one of the strongest showcases currently available in the racing genre.
Early Community Feedback Highlights Minor Problems
Despite the overwhelmingly positive reception, some players have already reported smaller issues and complaints during the early access phase.
Most criticism currently revolves around server instability, optimization inconsistencies on certain PC setups, and a handful of balancing concerns tied to progression systems and online events. However, these types of launch-period complaints are relatively common for large online-focused releases.
Many players expect Playground Games to roll out several stability patches and balancing updates shortly after the global launch window opens on May 19.
At the moment, though, the overall mood surrounding Forza Horizon 6 remains extremely positive, with many fans already calling it one of the strongest entries the franchise has ever produced.
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