In this article, we take a detailed look at Forza Horizon 6, including the official PC system requirements to help you understand what hardware is needed for the best experience. We also cover the game’s key details, core features, and gameplay elements to give you a complete overview. In addition, we compare the PC requirements of Forza Horizon 5 and Forza Horizon 6, highlighting how the hardware demands have evolved over time. To provide practical insight, we’ve also included our own Forza Horizon 5 benchmark tests, giving you a clear and realistic idea of performance across different system configurations.
Forza Horizon 6 is the next major entry in the popular open-world racing franchise developed by Playground Games and published by Xbox Game Studios. Known for combining arcade-style racing with massive open worlds, the Horizon series continues to evolve with each release.
This time, the game takes players to a highly detailed and culturally rich version of Japan, offering a fresh experience with modern cities, scenic countryside, and iconic mountain roads. With improved visuals, deeper gameplay systems, and the biggest map in the series so far, Forza Horizon 6 aims to deliver the most immersive Horizon festival yet.
Official Release Date
Forza Horizon 6 is officially scheduled to release on May 19, 2026 for PC and Xbox Series X|S.
- Early Access (Premium Edition): May 15, 2026
- PlayStation 5 Release: Expected later in 2026
- Game Pass Availability: Day one on Xbox Game Pass
This makes it one of the biggest racing game launches of 2026, especially with its multi-platform expansion.
Platforms
The game will be available on:
- PC (Windows, Steam)
- Xbox Series X|S
- Xbox Cloud Gaming
- PlayStation 5 (later in 2026)
It also supports Xbox Play Anywhere, allowing cross-progression between PC and Xbox.
Setting and Open World
One of the most exciting features of Forza Horizon 6 is its Japan-based open world, something fans have requested for years.
- Massive map inspired by real Japanese locations
- Includes Tokyo city, countryside roads, and mountain passes
- Dynamic seasons, including cherry blossoms and snowy winters
- Highly detailed environments like Mount Fuji and urban districts
The Tokyo area alone is described as one of the most complex and largest cities ever built in the Horizon series.
丨Gameplay Features
Open-World Progression
Players start as a tourist racer with little recognition and gradually build their reputation by completing races, challenges, and festival events. As they progress, they earn rewards, unlock new opportunities, and gain influence within the Horizon Festival, eventually rising through the ranks to become a top driver.
Cars and Customization
The game launches with over 550 cars, making it the largest car roster in the franchise.
Key highlights:
- Wide range of Japanese and international brands
- Deep customization options
- Multiple garages and fast travel locations
- Player homes, including a customizable estate
Players can also share designs and builds through online features, making customization a major part of the experience.
Image Source: Forza Horizon 6
Graphics and Technology
Powered by the ForzaTech engine, the game introduces major improvements:
- Enhanced lighting and reflections
- Realistic weather systems
- Seasonal changes that affect gameplay
- Dense urban environments and large-scale landscapes
The visual leap is especially noticeable in Tokyo’s neon-lit streets and detailed countryside.
Forza Horizon 6 - System Requirements
To enjoy Forza Horizon 6 at its best, you’ll need a PC that can handle its massive open world, detailed environments, and advanced visuals. The game is demanding, especially if you want high settings or higher resolutions, but even mid-range systems can run it smoothly with some adjustments. Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll need.
Minimum Requirements
Performance Target: 60 FPS at 1080p resolution on Low settings.
Windows Version: Windows 10/11 (at least 22H2)
CPU: Intel Core i5-8400 / AMD Ryzen 5 1600
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650, AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT, or Intel Arc A380
System RAM: 16GB
Storage: SSD
Recommended Requirements
Performance Target: 60+ FPS at 1440p resolution on High settings.
Windows Version: Windows 10/11 (at least 22H2)
CPU: Intel Core i5-12400F / AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT, or Intel Arc A580
System RAM: 16GB
Storage: SSD
Extreme Requirements
Performance Target: 60+ FPS at 4K resolution on Extreme settings.
Windows Version: Windows 10/11 (at least 22H2)
CPU: Intel Core i7-12700K / AMD Ryzen 7 7700X
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti / AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT
System RAM: 24GB
Storage: NVMe SSD
Extreme RT Requirements
Performance Target: 60+ FPS at 4K upscaled resolution on Extreme RT settings (Ray Tracing enabled).
Windows Version: Windows 10/11 (at least 22H2)
CPU: Intel Core i7-12700K / AMD Ryzen 7 7700X
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti / AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT
System RAM: 32GB
Storage: NVMe SSD
丨Key PC Features
NVIDIA DLSS 4 | AMD FSR 3+4 | Intel XeSS 2.1
High Uncapped Framerates
Ultrawide Monitor Support
Ray Traced Reflections and Global Illumination
Robust Controller and Wheel Support
Play on Steam Deck and Xbox ROG Ally
Comparison PC Requirements of Forza Horizon 5 and Forza Horizon 6
Feature |
Forza Horizon 5 |
Forza Horizon 6 |
|---|---|---|
Low Preset
|
GTX 970/RX 470 4GB, 1080p@30 FPS, Low Graphics
|
GTX 1650/RX 6500 XT 4GB, 1080p@60 FPS, Low Preset
|
Medium Preset
|
GTX 1070/RX 590 8GB, 1080p@60 FPS, Medium-High Graphics
|
RTX 3060 Ti 8GB / RX 6700 XT 12GB, 1440p@60+ FPS, High Preset
|
Memory
|
4GB Minimum, 8GB Recommended
|
16GB Minimum for all presets
|
Storage
|
110GB HDD
|
TBA
|
CPU
|
i5-4460/Ryzen 3 1200 Minimum, i5-8400/Ryzen 5 1500X Recommended
|
i5-8400/Ryzen 5 1600 Minimum, i5-12400F/Ryzen 5 5600X
|
When comparing the PC requirements of Forza Horizon 5 and Forza Horizon 6, both games target similar resolutions at lower settings, but Forza Horizon 6 is significantly more demanding across all components. For minimum or low settings, Forza Horizon 5 can run on a GTX 970 or RX 470 with 4GB of system RAM and an HDD, targeting 1080p at 30 FPS. In contrast, Forza Horizon 6 requires a GTX 1650 or RX 6500 XT with 16GB of system RAM to achieve 1080p at 60 FPS, doubling the framerate and quadrupling the memory. For medium or recommended settings, Forza Horizon 5 runs well on a GTX 1070 or RX 590 with 8GB of system RAM, hitting 1080p at 60 FPS. Forza Horizon 6, however, demands more modern hardware such as the RTX 3060 Ti or RX 6700 XT, the latter offering 12GB of VRAM, alongside 16GB of system RAM to deliver 1440p at 60 or more frames per second on high settings. The CPU requirements also show a notable generational leap, with Forza Horizon 6’s minimum processor matching Forza Horizon 5’s recommended Intel i5 8400, while its recommended CPU jumps to the Intel i5 12400F or AMD Ryzen 5 5600X. Storage details for Forza Horizon 6 have not yet been announced, though it is expected to surpass Forza Horizon 5’s 110GB footprint. Overall, Forza Horizon 6 requires newer and more capable hardware, roughly one to two GPU tiers above what was sufficient for its predecessor, along with significantly higher system RAM demands, making it a substantially more resource intensive game.
Forza Horizon 5 Performance Benchmarks
丨3 GPUs Benchmarks
We have tested the performance using three different graphics cards, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super, and AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT. We ran the game at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K resolutions, and tried different graphics presets on each GPU to see how performance and visuals changed. If you want to see the full results, you can check out our benchmark videos on YouTube. We’ve uploaded three separate videos, each one focused on a different GPU or setup, so you can clearly see how the game performs in each scenario.
丨Testing System
The test system was equipped with an Asrock x670E PG Lightning Motherboard, AMD Ryzen 7 7800x3D Processor, Corsair (2x16GB) 6200MHz DDR5 Ram, XPG 1TB GAMMIX S70 Blade Gen4 M.2 SSD and a Corsair HX1000i Fully Modular (1000w) Power Supply.
Component |
Model / Specification |
Check Prices | |
|---|---|---|---|
CPU
|
AMD Ryzen 7 7800x3D
| ||
Motherboard
|
Asrock x670E PG Lightning
| ||
RAM
|
Corsair (2x16GB) 6200MHz DDR5
| ||
Power Supply
|
Corsair HX1000i Fully Modular (1000w)
| ||
Storage
|
XPG 1TB GAMMIX S70 Blade Gen4
| ||
Operating System
|
Windows 10 - Version 22H2
| ||
Benchmark Performance Summary
GPU Model |
Graphic Settings |
Avg FPS |
1% Low |
|---|---|---|---|
RTX 5060 Ti (16GB)
|
1080P - Extreme Graphics - DLSS DLAA
|
136 FPS
|
99 FPS
|
RTX 5060 Ti (16GB)
|
1440P - Extreme Graphics - DLSS DLAA
|
104 FPS
|
89 FPS
|
RTX 5060 Ti (16GB)
|
4K - Extreme Graphics - DLSS DLAA
|
64 FPS
|
54 FPS
|
RTX 5060 Ti (16GB)
|
4K - Extreme Graphics - DLSS Quality
|
78 FPS
|
71 FPS
|
RTX 4070 Ti Super (16GB)
|
1080P Max Graphics - DLSS OFF - RT OFF
|
224 FPS
|
152 FPS
|
RTX 4070 Ti Super (16GB)
|
1440P Max Graphics - DLSS OFF - RT OFF
|
174 FPS
|
122 FPS
|
RTX 4070 Ti Super (16GB)
|
4K P Max Graphics - DLSS OFF - RT OFF
|
104 FPS
|
80 FPS
|
RX 9070 XT (16GB)
|
1080P - Extreme Graphics - FSR Native AA
|
178 FPS
|
124 FPS
|
RX 9070 XT (16GB)
|
1440P - Extreme Graphics - FSR Native AA
|
140 FPS
|
120 FPS
|
RX 9070 XT (16GB)
|
2160P - Extreme Graphics - FSR Native AA
|
108 FPS
|
88 FPS
|
As we tested and shared the performance benchmarks of Forza Horizon 5, in the same way we plan to carry out a full performance analysis of Forza Horizon 6 once it launches. Our testing will include detailed FPS benchmarks across multiple resolutions, different graphics presets, and a range of GPUs to give you a clear understanding of how the game performs in real-world scenarios. Benchmark results will be published on YouTube first, followed by a detailed report on our website. Stay updated by following our website and subscribing to our YouTube Channel, so you don’t miss any updates.
Afaq is the author and driving force behind GAMING BENCH, a technology and gaming focused platform dedicated to delivering accurate, insightful, and up to date coverage of the gaming world. With a strong interest in PC hardware, gaming performance, and industry trends, Afaq focuses on creating clear, well researched content that helps readers understand the latest gaming news, benchmarks, and technology developments. Through GAMING BENCH, the goal is to provide reliable information, honest analysis, and practical insights for gamers, tech enthusiasts, and professionals who want to stay informed in a fast moving digital landscape.
