The Forza Horizon 6 location has been revealed at Tokyo Game Show 2025, and we’re off to Japan this time. However, that also comes with the risk of messing up cultural accuracy, which we saw with Assassin’s Creed: Shadows. Fret not, as the developers wish to treat the place with utmost authenticity. This is what Art Director Don Arceta and Cultural Consultant Kyoko Yamashita revealed to Xbox Wire:
Throughout the process of building the game, we have treated authenticity as a practice, not a checkbox. I’m embedded in decision cycles – scripts, visuals, and audio – asking questions like, ‘What would this street feel like at dusk in late summer?’ or ‘Which sound anchors this scene: traffic or a station chime?
The developers don’t want to hurt the sentiments associated with Japanese culture, even though the game will use a fictionalised version. Additionally, the development team wants us players to enjoy Japan through digital tourism.
For locals and people who know Japan well, my hope is recognition: ‘Yes, that’s how it flows.’ Getting that balance right is a way of honoring the culture and the community that loves it. It really will feel like a first time trip to Japan for players who have never been. We even hope that it might inspire some folks to take a real-world visit
Overall, the development team has been hard at work to share the feeling of Japan with the upcoming racing game. It said the world will be full of tiny details that will make it feel like you’ve landed in Japan.
Forza Horizon 6 Wants To Keep the Japan Experience Authentic
Japan has been on the minds of us fans and even the developers themselves. Finally, in 2026, we’ll get to experience the place in full glory. Furthermore, Art Director Don Arceta believes in bringing the beautiful scenes of Japan to full glory with the upcoming Forza Horizon 6. This is what he quoted during the same interview:
Japan has such a unique culture – from cars, to music, to fashion – that make it perfect for the next Horizon setting. As with any Horizon title, we want to make sure we do the country justice in terms of authentic representation and Horizon open world playability – and now is the right time to realize that fully for players.
Although Japan had been considered as a location before, developers initially avoided it due to challenges in recreating Tokyo’s elevated roads. However, after gaining valuable experience through the Forza Horizon 5 Hot Wheels DLC, the team finally had the expertise to tackle the problem.
To capture the true spirit of Japan, the development team even traveled there in person. While the country is often associated with its bustling energy, it discovered a unique kind of quiet woven into the chaos, a calm that feels unusual yet natural. With these insights, the next entry in the series is shaping up to deliver the most authentic Japanese racing experience yet.
What Can We Expect From Forza Horizon 6
After enjoying the vistas of fictionalised Britain and Mexico, riders will be able to drift through Japan. Even though Turn 10 Studios hasn’t revealed how the gameplay will work out, we can still anticipate what to expect. For starters, a full car customization with third-party parts additions.
Japan’s tuner car culture is legendary, and it would be a missed opportunity not to highlight it. The series has long fallen short when it comes to body customization, limiting players’ creativity. Meanwhile, Need for Speed has continued to evolve in that department. With EA’s racing franchise absent for a while, now is the perfect time for Turn 10 Studios to capitalize on the gap.
What expectations do you have for the upcoming Forza Horizon 6 in 2026? Do you think we’ll finally get over-the-top car customization with the upcoming game? Share with us in the comments below.
