Forza Horizon 6 Release: What Time Can You Start Playing?

May 17, 2026 - 20:08

The wait is almost over. Forza Horizon 6 officially launches on May 19, but the exact moment you can start driving depends on your region, platform, and which edition you bought.

For players who purchased the Premium Edition, early access begins on May 15. This version includes the base game plus the first major expansion pass, VIP membership, and the Car Pass. Standard and Deluxe Edition owners must wait until the global release on May 19.

Microsoft has confirmed a rolling midnight release for the game on Xbox Series X|S and PC. In North America, the game unlocks at 12:01 AM Eastern Time on May 19. For the West Coast, that means 9:01 PM Pacific on May 18. In Europe, the game goes live at midnight local time in each country. For example, UK players can start at 12:01 AM BST, while Central European players start at 12:01 AM CEST.

Preloading is available now for all editions. If you pre-ordered digitally, the full game file is already on your hard drive. The install size is roughly 130 GB on Xbox and 145 GB on PC, so make sure you have enough free space. On PC, the game runs on the new ForzaTech engine and supports ray tracing in Forzavista mode and during races.

If you are playing through Xbox Game Pass, you get the Standard Edition on May 19. No early access is included with the subscription, but you can buy the Premium Add-Ons Bundle to unlock early play and the extra content.

One thing to note: the game requires a persistent internet connection for the first launch to verify your license. After that, you can play offline in single-player mode, but features like the Horizon Life multiplayer and seasonal events need a connection.