Forza Horizon 6 Early Access Goes Live on Xbox and PC Ahead of May 19 Launch

One of the most anticipated racing releases of the decade, Forza Horizon 6, is set to launch on Xbox Series X|S and PC via the Microsoft Store and Steam on May 19, 2026. The new entry takes players to Japan and features more than 550 driveable real‑world cars.

Players who purchase the Premium Edition or the Premium Upgrade receive four days of early access, starting on May 15. Standard and Deluxe buyers, along with Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass members, join from May 19. On Steam, Early Access unlocks worldwide at 12:01 AM EDT on May 15.

Forza Horizon 6 Launch Timings and Early Access

Premium Edition and Premium Upgrade owners can start playing slightly before the official calendar date because console unlocks roll out by time zone. Early access begins on May 14 at 9:01 PM Pacific Time and 11:01 PM Central Time, then continues on May 15 at 12:01 AM for Eastern Time, British Summer Time, Australian Eastern Time and Japan Standard Time.

General release timings for Standard and Deluxe Editions, plus Game Pass users, mirror that schedule. The full launch opens on May 18 at 9:01 PM Pacific Time and 11:01 PM Central Time. On May 19, access goes live at 12:01 AM across Eastern Time, British Summer Time, Australian Eastern Time and Japan Standard Time.

Forza Horizon 6 Pre-load Options and Download Size

Xbox players can prepare by pre‑loading Forza Horizon 6 before servers open. On the console, go to My Games and Apps, locate Forza Horizon 6 and select the preload option to start the download. File size on Xbox systems is listed at about 135 GB, so adequate free storage is essential.

On PC, those who have bought Forza Horizon 6 through Steam should visit the game’s store page, where the preload button appears once the purchase is complete. Selecting it starts the download, which exceeds 160 GB. PC Game Pass and Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can instead pre‑load via the Xbox app on Windows.

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Forza Horizon 6 shifts the open‑world festival to Japan, offering dense cities, mountain passes and rural routes for exploration. Players will be able to drive more than 550 real‑world vehicles, making this one of the largest car rosters in the series and a major draw for racing fans in India.

With precise launch timings now confirmed and pre‑load options active on Xbox, Steam and the Xbox app for PC, players can plan downloads well ahead of release. Early access from May 15 benefits Premium buyers, while all other editions and Game Pass members gain entry when Forza Horizon 6 arrives on May 19, 2026.