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 choose the digital version (or Game Pass version) will be on different schedules, depending on where you live and how much you spend on the game.

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

What time is Forza Horizon 6 coming out?

Global release times for FH6

It's a bit confusing, but if you get the regular standard edition of Forza Horizon 6it will be launched at 9:00 PM Pacific Time on May 14th / 12:00 AM Eastern Time on May 15th, but only for PC/Steam players. For those on Xbox, it will launch at midnight local time. However, if you are in the US (or live in a time zone that overlaps with the US), the release time will be 12:01 PM ET.

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

Region / City	Steam (Early Access/Launch)	Xbox (Early Access/Launch)
Los Angeles (PT)	May 14 / May 18 at 21:01	May 14 / May 18 @ 21:01
Denver (MT)	May 14 / May 18 at 22:01	May 14 / May 18 at 22:01
Mexico City/Chicago (CST)	May 14 / May 18 @ 11:01 p.m	May 14 / May 18 @ 11:01 p.m
New York (ET)	May 15/May 19 at 00:01 (midnight)	May 15/May 19 at 00:01 (midnight)
São Paulo (BRT)	May 15 / May 19 at 01:01	May 15/May 19 at 00:01 (midnight)
London (BST)	May 15 / May 19 at 05:01	May 15/May 19 at 00:01 (midnight)
Paris / Berlin (CEST)	May 15 / May 19 at 06:01	May 15/May 19 at 00:01 (midnight)
Seoul (KST)	May 15 / May 19 @ 13:01	May 15/May 19 at 00:01 (midnight)
Tokyo (JST)	May 15 / May 19 @ 13:01	May 15/May 19 at 00:01 (midnight)
Sydney (AEST)	May 15 / May 19 @ 14:01	May 15/May 19 at 00:01 (midnight)
Auckland (NZST)	May 15 / May 19 at 16:01	May 15/May 19 at 00:01 (midnight)

How to play Forza Horizon 6 Early

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

If you want in on four day early access for Forza Horizon 6you must purchase the Premium Editionwhich costs $119.99 — $40 more than the standard version. What else comes with this super expensive version, you might ask? Well, let's get into it.

Features	Standard – $69.99	Deluxe – $99.99	Premium – $119.99
Bass 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 package 5 preset 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 likes cars and so are you super invested in Forza Horizon series, grabbing the Premium Edition might be worth it to you. Not only will you get access to the two future expansions, but you'll get tons of extra cars and other goodies.

But if you are not sure you will spend months or even years of your life playing Horizon 6it might be good to stick with the standard edition and then get the expansions piecemeal when they drop (if you even want to keep playing when the credits roll).

Does the New Zealand trick work for Forza Horizon 6?

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

Is Forza Horizon 6 coming to PS5?

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