The arrival of one of 2026's biggest new games — and what many expect to be the most successful Xbox game of the year — is now just days away. The title in question? Forza Horizon 6, Playground Games long-awaited and highly anticipated arcade racer sequel to 2021's Forza Horizon 5.

Set in the vibrant and varied landscapes of Japan with advanced driving simulation systems, cutting-edge visuals and audio, tons of cars to drive, and special new multiplayer features and gameplay activities, Forza Horizon 6 looks to be the most impressive game in the series yet, both from a technical and content perspective. Naturally, that's garnered plenty of excitement for it — and that's been reflected in its pre-launch sales.

Interestingly, as I've been putting this article together, I noticed that Subnautica 2 has just now climbed back over Forza for the top spot on the Steam Top Sellers list. That's not terribly surprising given the fact it's coming out on May 14, and also because the wait for it has been agonizingly long and beset by legal issues; originally, it was supposed to come out last year. Still, it's noteworthy.

Something else that's notable is that both titles will be playable on day one through Xbox Game Pass, and either PC Game Pass or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate specifically. If both games interest you, I'd say it's not a bad idea to get a membership for a month or two to experience them affordably, though do keep in mind you'll lose access unless you pay for additional months.

Ultimately, it seems clear that Forza Horizon 6 is going to have a very strong launch, even despite the recent leak fiasco that saw the game's final build leak online and get cracked by pirates almost immediately. Microsoft and Xbox are threatening to hardware ban anyone found with an illegal copy of the racer, taking a fierce stand against piracy ahead of the game's launch next week.

It's got an MSRP of $69.99, but it's just $54.39 at Loaded. The $119.99 Premium Edition with Early Access included is also $92.99 at Loaded. Note that if you decide to preorder Forza Horizon 6 or have already, preloading is live now across Xbox Series X|S, Steam, and Xbox on PC; for the unaware, that feature allows you to download and install the game before it releases so you can start playing right away.

Are you looking forward to playing Forza Horizon 6? Share your thoughts below.

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Brendan Lowry is a Windows Central writer and Oakland University graduate with a burning passion for video games, of which he's been an avid fan since childhood. He's been writing for Team WC since the summer of 2017, and you'll find him doing news, editorials, reviews, and general coverage on everything gaming, Xbox, and Windows PC. His favorite game of all time is probably NieR: Automata, though Elden Ring, Fallout: New Vegas, and Team Fortress 2 are in the running, too. When he's not writing or gaming, there's a good chance he's either watching an interesting new movie or TV show or actually going outside for once. Follow him on X (Twitter).