Forza Horizon 6 Release Times: How to Play Early (All Regions)

Update: Playground Games has confirmed the launch times for Forza Horizon 6, so this article has been updated with the official Tweet and information...

Forza Horizon 6 from Playground Games will launch for PC and Xbox Series X/S on May 19, 2026. However, the actual release time for those who opt into the digital version (or the Game Pass version) will vary depending on where you live and how much you spend on the game.

This Forza Horizon 6 guide will cover the global release times, how to play early, and explain the differences between the three editions (it can be quite confusing!)

What Time Does Forza Horizon 6 Come Out?

Global Release Times for FH6

It's a little bit confusing, but if you're getting the regular standard edition of Forza Horizon 6, it will launch at 9 PM Pacific Time on May 14 / 12 AM Eastern Time on May 15, but only for PC/Steam players. For those on Xbox, it will launch at midnight local time. However, if you're in the US (or live in a time zone that overlaps with the US), the release time will be 12:01 AM ET.

To help with the timing, the chart below shows release times for major regions around the globe, as well as launch times for the Premium Edition, which grants players 4 days of early access.

Region / City	Steam (Early Access / Launch)	Xbox (Early Access / Launch)
Los Angeles (PT)	May 14 / May 18 @ 09:01 PM	May 14 / May 18 @ 9:01 PM
Denver (MT)	May 14 / May 18 @ 10:01 PM	May 14 / May 18 @ 10:01 PM
Mexico City / Chicago (CST)	May 14 / May 18 @ 11:01 PM	May 14 / May 18 @ 11:01 PM
New York (ET)	May 15 / May 19 @ 00:01 AM (Midnight)	May 15 / May 19 @ 00:01 AM (Midnight)
São Paulo (BRT)	May 15 / May 19 @ 01:01 AM	May 15 / May 19 @ 00:01 AM (Midnight)
London (BST)	May 15 / May 19 @ 05:01 AM	May 15 / May 19 @ 00:01 AM (Midnight)
Paris / Berlin (CEST)	May 15 / May 19 @ 06:01 AM	May 15 / May 19 @ 00:01 AM (Midnight)
Seoul (KST)	May 15 / May 19 @ 01:01 PM	May 15 / May 19 @ 00:01 AM (Midnight)
Tokyo (JST)	May 15 / May 19 @ 01:01 PM	May 15 / May 19 @ 00:01 AM (Midnight)
Sydney (AEST)	May 15 / May 19 @ 02:01 PM	May 15 / May 19 @ 00:01 AM (Midnight)
Auckland (NZST)	May 15 / May 19 @ 04:01 PM	May 15 / May 19 @ 00:01 AM (Midnight)

How to Play Forza Horizon 6 Early

image comparison shows visual improvements in forza horizon 6's final version.

If you want in on the four days of early access for Forza Horizon 6, you'll have to purchase the Premium Edition, which costs $119.99 -- $40 more than the standard version. What else comes with this super pricey version, you might ask? Well, let's get into it.

Features	Standard - $69.99	Deluxe - $99.99	Premium - $119.99
Base Game	Yes	Yes	Yes
Car Pass 30 Extra Cars	No	Yes	Yes
Expansion 1	No	No	Yes
Expansion 2	No	No	Yes
VIP Membership 3 Exclusive Forza Edition Cars, Crown Flair, Emote, Car Horn; free Tokyo City Player House/perk, 2x CR rewards, weekly Super Wheelspins	No	No	Yes
Time Attack Car Pack 8 extra cars	No	No	Yes
Italian Passion Car Pack 4 extra cars	No	No	Yes
Welcome Pack 5 pre-tuned cars, 1 Car Voucher (from Autoshow cars), free Player House, 3 tickets for Common or Rare clothing items	No	Yes	Yes

So, Is the Premium Edition Worth It?

It should go without saying, but if you really like cars and you're super invested in the Forza Horizon series, grabbing the Premium Edition might be worth it for you. Not only will you get access to the two future expansions, but you'll get a ton of extra cars and some other goodies.

But, if you're not sure that you're going to spend months or even years of your life playing Horizon 6, it might be good to stick with the Standard edition and then get the expansions piecemeal once they drop (if you even want to keep playing once the credits roll).

Does the New Zealand Trick Work for Forza Horizon 6?

Since Forza Horizon 6 comes out at midnight local time (on Xbox), the New Zealand time trick should work if you want to get in on the action a bit early. For those playing on PC, the release is simultaneous, so it won't help you out. Of course, some players have managed to play the leaked version of FH6, but we recommend avoiding it.

Is Forza Horizon 6 Coming to PS5?

Xbox Game Studios and Playground Games have confirmed that Forza Horizon 6 will come to PS5 sometime in 2026, but no specific release date has been announced yet. Half of the year is basically over, so PlayStation fans shouldn't have to wait too long to get their hands on the racing game. Either way, at least it won't take four years, as it did for Forza Horizon 5, to get ported over.