Forza Horizon 6 more than doubles Forza Horizon 5’s Steam peak during early access

Forza Horizon 6 is already showing serious launch momentum before the full release. During its Premium Edition early-access window, the Japan-set racer has more than doubled Forza Horizon 5’s concurrent-player peak on Steam, according to GamingBolt. That is a strong sign for Microsoft because the standard launch and Game Pass wave have not even fully arrived yet. The appeal is easy to understand. Japan has been one of the most requested Horizon settings for years, and it naturally fits the series’ mix of neon city racing, mountain roads, drift culture, rural scenery, highways and car-collector fantasy. A strong Steam start also matters strategically because Forza Horizon is no longer just an Xbox-console showcase. It is now a PC-first, Steam-visible and Game Pass-powered ecosystem release. The caveat is that early-access players are usually the most committed part of the audience. Even so, this looks like one of Xbox’s strongest 2026 openings so far.