Forza Horizon 6 is almost here, and like most big game releases, players will be able to jump in at slightly different times depending on their edition and region.
The game officially launches on May 19, 2026, with early access available a few days earlier for Premium Edition owners. Players who purchase the Premium Edition get up to 4 days of early access since the game will open on May 15 for them, and the standard edition will also be available through Xbox Game Pass at launch.
The 4-day early access is nice, but realistically, it does not create a massive long-term advantage. It basically just allows them not to have everyone jump in at the same time, so unless you are planning to grind immediately, waiting for the standard launch will not put you far behind.
Global Release Times
The game is expected to release simultaneously worldwide, but due to time zones, the exact local time varies. Here is when servers should go live in your region:
| Region | Early Access | Full Release |
|---|---|---|
| Pacific (PT) | May 14 – 9 PM | May 18 – 9 PM |
| Eastern (ET) | May 15 – 12 AM | May 19 – 12 AM |
| British Summer Time (BST) | May 15 – 5 AM | May 19 – 5 AM |
| Central European Summer Time (CEST) | May 15 – 6 AM | May 19 – 6 AM |
| China | May 15 – 12 PM | May 19 – 12 PM |
| Japan / Korea (JST/KST) | May 15 – 1 PM | May 19 – 1 PM |
| Australia (AET) | May 15 – 2 PM | May 19 – 2 PM |
| New Zealand (NZST) | May 15 – 4 PM | May 19 – 4 PM |
Keep in mind that these timings are based on platform data, such as on SteamDB, and the usual release patterns, so they should be accurate, but they are not officially confirmed yet.
As a reminder, Forza Horizon 6 takes place in Japan, something fans have been asking for for years. From the cool Tokyo city streets to more rural landscapes, the map is expected to offer a mix of environments inspired by real locations. If you want to get an early look at it, they did share a few nice videos, such as the initial drive gameplay:
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