Forza Horizon 6 has decided to make certain structures and trees that have cultural significance in Japan indestructible. The decision comes after several other AAA games, also set in Japan Forza Horizon 6faced criticism over depictions of sacred elements that some Japanese found disrespectful.
A recent example is the backlash against Assassin's Creed Shadows. Despite the game's financially successful release, Ubisoft faced early criticism for allowing players to destroy some sacred artifacts in shrines. Some Japanese politicians also expressed concern about the feature, eventually prompting the developer to apologize and make adjustments to subsequently make such cultural objects indestructible.
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Forza Horizon 6 has chosen respect over realism
IN Forza Horizon 6players cannot tear down cherry blossom trees. Other trees can be destroyed, but not cherry blossom trees. While that choice may go against the high level of immersion the series is known for, there's a good reason behind it. Forza Horizon 6The design director, Torben Ellert, said the team has been careful to remain respectful and treat the game as a “simcade”, a mix of simulation and arcade that doesn't sacrifice everything just to feel realistic.
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Certain temples or other cultural elements are also excluded so that players are not tempted to drive through shrines or places of cultural significance.
In an interview with The Japan Times, Ellert also said, “Some temples or other cultural elements are also excluded so that players are not tempted to drive through shrines or places of cultural significance.” A reason Forza Horizon 6 has been so meticulous about details like this is the game's culture consultant Kyoko Yamashita. Yamashita has played a crucial role in developer Playground Games' research into Japan's values and beliefs, likely influencing the decision to protect specific elements of Forza Horizon 6s world.
Why Forza Horizon 6 is especially careful with trees
For those wondering why trees should be treated differently in a game, the answer lies in Japan's spiritual beliefs. According to Glenn Moore and Cassandra Atherton, two university professors who have studied the variety of ancient trees in Japan, certain trees used to be “marked with a sacred rope called a shimenawa, warning that if someone cut down the tree, they would have to deal with an angry spirit.” Forza Horizon 6s Japan-inspired map may not mark every unbreakable tree or scare off ruthless drivers with vengeful spirits, but it won't let players hurt them regardless.
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Forza Horizon 6s fanbase doesn't seem particularly bothered by the decision. Some players have even realized that the game has dense forest areas where most trees and objects can still be broken. In some earlier Forza Horizon game, a common complaint was how certain trees and obstacles would abruptly stop players after a collision. That seems to be less of a problem this time around, as developer Playground Games has made most of the vegetation destructible. The change appears to have helped balance the decision to preserve cherry trees and a handful of other items.
As of this writing, and based on Early Access data, most have Forza Horizon 6 the reviews have been positive. On Steam alone, it has received more than 12,000 user reviews, with over 70% recommending it to other players. That's not to say the game has escaped criticism entirely, but most complaints focus on performance issues and crashes as opposed to anything insensitive to the setting.
- Released
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May 19, 2026
- ESRB
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All / Mild texts, users interact, in-game purchases
- Publisher
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Xbox Game Studios
