Forza Horizon 6 has, as is standard for the live-service racing series, settled into a steady rhythm of revolving weekly to-do lists and a gradual drip feed of fresh cars since it came out in May. Unless you’re hopping on for regular bouts of driving with mates or just dig the grind, odds are most folks will have dipped in and out over the months, possibly only returning when a new season adds the likes of a drift attack mode to the open world. Horizon 6’s first major DLC’s likely to change that at least for a little while, and Playground Games have now revealed it’ll be arriving in January.
Ever fans of catchy names, Playground are calling this opening Horizon 6 expansion “the first Premium Expansion for Forza Horizon 6” for now. It’ll release on January 21st, 2027, and will be automatically granted to players who’ve bought the racer’s premium edition, premium upgrade or expansions bundle. Those who’ve not already splashed that extra cash will have to buy it separately.
As for what it’s themed around or entails, all the studio have said thus far is more details will be coming “closer to availability”. They have at least noted that a second expansion will also be coming at some point further down the line. I’ll be honest, I never got around to buying Forza Horizon 5’s expansions. Both the Hot Wheels add-on with GTA 5-esque sky tracks and the Rally Adventure add-on seemed to get rather mixed reviews right out of the gate, a mark they both still sit at on Steam as of writing.
It might largely have been more of what the base game did well, but I recall having a good time with Forza Horizon 4’s Fortune Island expansion. A fresh corner of the map to explore that’s got some interesting scenery, flowing roads to master, and fits with the established vibe better than someone unloading a child’s toybox across Mexico. Ideally, Horizon 6’s get something similar with one of its expansions, which are also a good chance to put out a new area that perhaps feels a bit more concentrated in its unique Japanese vibes, rather than meandering a bit into a more standard Forza atmosphere when you’re on a road that isn’t right next to a key landmark.
Regardless, better DLC than its predecessor will be needed if this latest entry’s to remain worthy of the bestest best sticker I gave it as part of my Forza Horizon 6 review.
As ever with games made by Xbox-owned studios, it’s worth noting that the parent company behind Horizon 6, Microsoft, are subject to the BDS movement’s ongoing boycott over their reported links to the Israeli military. They’ve also laid off thousands of people this year as part of bloodletting that’s only “roughly three-quarters” of the way finished as I write this.