The wait is almost over. Forza Horizon 6 launches on Xbox Series X|S and PC on May 19, 2026, set in an open-world recreation of Japan featuring over 550 cars at launch. But if you have the Premium Edition, you don’t need to wait that long — players who purchase the premium edition will get a four-day early access, with Forza Horizon 6 set to release at 12 AM ET on May 15, 2026. Here’s everything you need to know before you hit Play. KeenGamerSportskeeda
Table of Contents
Forza Horizon 6 Release Times — Global Breakdown
| Region / Time Zone | Early Access (May 15) | Standard Launch (May 19) |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern (EDT) | May 15 — 12:00 AM | May 19 — 12:00 AM |
| Central (CDT) | May 14 — 11:00 PM | May 18 — 11:00 PM |
| Pacific (PDT) | May 14 — 9:00 PM | May 18 — 9:00 PM |
| UK (BST) | May 15 — 5:00 AM | May 19 — 5:00 AM |
| India (IST) | May 15 — 9:30 AM | May 19 — 9:30 AM |
| Steam (Global) | May 15 — 12:01 AM EDT | May 19 — 12:01 AM EDT |
Xbox and Windows use a rolling midnight release per local time zone. Steam uses a single global unlock tied to US Eastern time.
Editions & Pricing
| Edition | Price | Perks |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | $59.99 | Full game, Ferrari J50 (pre-order) |
| Deluxe | $99.99 | Game + Car Pass + Welcome Pack |
| Premium | $119.99 | Full game + 4-day Early Access + all extras |
| Game Pass (Ultimate / PC) | Included | Full game from May 19; Early Access needs Premium Upgrade |
No matter which edition you buy, pre-ordering gets you a free exclusive Ferrari J50 — a pre-tuned car that celebrates 50 years of Ferrari in Japan. Ferrari only ever made 10 of these in real life. TechWiser
How to Preload Forza Horizon 6
The Forza Horizon 6 preload went live on May 1, 2026, across Xbox Series X|S, PC via the Xbox App, and Steam. Everyone who pre-ordered Forza Horizon 6 or has Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass can pre-download the game and immediately begin playing once Early Access begins May 15 or with general availability on May 19. KeenGamerForza Support
On Xbox: Go to My Games & Apps → find Forza Horizon 6 → press Manage → Install All.
On PC (Xbox App): Open the Xbox App → navigate to the FH6 store page → click Pre-Install → select your SSD drive.
On Steam: Open your Steam Library → locate Forza Horizon 6 → click Install → choose your drive.
File Sizes
Forza Horizon 6 clocks in at roughly 144 GB on Xbox Series X|S and 156 GB on PC. Clear your SSD now — you’ll also need extra headroom for the Day One patch. Pure Xbox
Game Pass & PS5
The standard edition of Forza Horizon 6 will be available on Xbox Game Pass from May 19th for PC Game Pass and Game Pass Ultimate members. It will not be available on Game Pass Essential, Premium or the new Starter tier. The game is coming to PS5, but not until later in the year. Pure XboxGameSpot
As one of the biggest open-world racing games in recent memory, Forza Horizon 6 is shaping up to be Xbox’s defining release of 2026.
For more gaming coverage, check our latest gaming news and reviews at TechnoSports and our Xbox and PC gaming guides.
FAQs
Q: When does Forza Horizon 6 release and how can I get Early Access?
Forza Horizon 6 officially launches May 19, 2026, but Premium Edition buyers get four-day early access starting May 15 at midnight local time on Xbox — or 12:01 AM EDT globally on Steam.
Q: Can I preload Forza Horizon 6 on Game Pass without buying it?
Yes — Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass members can preload the game right now for free, but they can only start playing on May 19 unless they purchase the Premium Upgrade for early access.
