Forza Horizon 6 has leaked online, a week before its scheduled launch on May 19. The leak has emerged amid ongoing struggles for Microsoft’s Xbox division, which faces declining hardware and game sales, according to Video Games Chronicle.
The leaked version pertains to the PC edition of the game, which appeared on various sharing sites after Steam users accessed an unencrypted preload version. Playground Games reportedly uploaded these preload files to Steam without encryption, leading to unauthorized sharing by pirates. The files total around 150GB and were quickly removed from Reddit, although they remain accessible on other, less regulated platforms.
Despite being highly online-centric, the cracked version of Forza Horizon 6 is reportedly playable offline, as several Reddit users have noted. This situation could upset players who purchased the $120 Premium Upgrade Bundle for early access starting on May 15. A gaming fan page on X remarked, “What an insane screw up,” in response to the leak.
In a statement on X, Playground Games indicated it would take strict enforcement action against individuals found accessing the cracked build, which could include franchise-wide and hardware bans. This proactive stance aims to address the piracy issue swiftly.
The setting of Forza Horizon 6 in Japan features iconic cultural elements such as cherry blossoms and Mount Fuji. Don Arceta, art director at Playground Games, explained that the unique culture of Japan, including its cars, music, and fashion, inspired the game’s design.
The leak complicates matters for Xbox, which hopes Forza Horizon 6 will be a success as it navigates multiple challenges, including increasing prices and declining subscriptions for its Game Pass service, which nearly doubled in price last year. With the stakes high, the company is seeking a turnaround with this installment of the racing series. The article was updated on May 11, 2026, to include Playground Games’ statement regarding the cracked version.
