Forza Horizon 5 for Xbox & PC: Release date, gameplay, trailers, and everything we know

Forza Horizon is the open-world counterpart to the legendary Xbox Forza racing franchise. Forza Horizon 5 follows the hugely successful and brilliant Forza Horizon 4, and will almost certainly set the bar for the best Xbox racing games and best PC racing games for years to come. Playground Games and Xbox Game Studios know how to deliver a premium open-world racing experience, and Forza Horizon 5 is sure not to disappoint. Of course, Forza Horizon 5 is also positively massive in scope, meaning there’s a lot to cover.

Here’s everything you need to know about Forza Horizon 5 for Xbox and PC.

Forza Horizon 5 is the follow-up game to Playground Games’ Forza Horizon 4 from 2018. Like other Forza Horizon games, Forza Horizon 5 is an open-world racing game with gorgeous visuals, accessible driving mechanics, and a massive roster of high-quality, licensed vehicles from dozens of manufacturers, all centered around the fabled Forza Horizon festival. And, also like previous Forza Horizon games, FH5 is exclusive to Xbox and PC platforms.

Forza Horizon 5 is the more arcade-like open-world counterpart to the highly anticipated eighth Forza Motorsport. While Forza Horizon 5 is coming later this year, not a ton is known about the mysterious Forza Motorsport reboot. Playground Games and Turn10 share a ton of technology and resources between them, as well, which means FH5 may give us a peek at the quality that can be expected from Forza Motorsport.

Forza Horizon 5 is akin to a “car-lovers sandbox,” and mostly lets you play however you want. While there is a story and full-blown campaign with the Horizon Adventure, Expeditions, and smaller Horizon Stories, it’s still up to players how they progress and what path they take. All in all, the focus of Forza Horizon 5 is the vast arsenal of cars, the wide variety of races and events, the sheer level of creative freedom available, and the deeply integrated online multiplayer gameplay.

If Forza Horizon 4 gives us a peek at what we can expect from Forza Horizon 5 throughout the next several years, we can expect a ton of post-launch support and updates to introduce new cars, events, challenges, and even premium DLC expansions.

You can check out more images of Forza Horizon 5 below, including some incredible wallpapers featuring mural art that will actually appear in-game.

Forza Horizon 5 releases on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC, Xbox Game Pass, and Xbox Cloud Gaming on Nov. 9, 2021. If you preorder Forza Horizon 5 Premium Edition or the Premium Add-Ons Bundle, you can play the game early on Nov. 5.

Forza Horizon 5 is the latest Xbox Game Studios title to launch simultaneously on Xbox, PC, and Xbox Game Pass. Xbox Cloud Gaming players on mobile devices will also be able to hop behind the wheel on day one. Forza Horizon 5 looks to be a technical and visual showcase on every one of those platforms, with all the stunning graphics and effects expected from a Forza game.

Versions & pricing

Ever since Forza Horizon 5 first became available to preorder, we’ve been keeping careful track of every edition, DLC, and option you need to be aware of. Our ultimate guide to buying or preordering Forza Horizon 5 covers absolutely everything, including all you need to know about why there isn’t a Forza Horizon 5 demo, what editions are available, where you can purchase FH5, and what kind of preorder bonuses or perks FH5 might be offering. There’s also an exclusive limited edition FH5 Xbox Controller, which even includes in-game perks, available for preorder.

How can I watch the trailers for Forza Horizon 5?

Official announcement

We knew Forza Horizon 5 was coming long before it was announced, and even had a hefty pile of leaks and rumors fueling speculation. Of course, the game had to be confirmed eventually. Forza Horizon 5 was officially revealed by Xbox and Playground Games at E3 2021 during the Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase at E3 2021.

Forza Horizon 5 was right near the end of the show and deservedly garnered a huge amount of hype and excitement for its release. It arrived alongside heavy hitters like Halo Infinite and Starfield. There was no way Microsoft could’ve made the announcement of Forza Horizon 5 a bigger deal.

From now on, expect more news and information to trickle out as we head towards the official release of Forza Horizon 5 on Xbox and PC. Playground plans to host periodic streams (under the “Let’s Go!” moniker) to cover different aspects of Forza Horizon 5. The first stream was a general introduction to the world of FH5, while the second covered the impressive technology powering FH5’s sky. You can watch all those streams and more in the “Trailers” section above.

FH5 also made a huge appearance at the Xbox Gamescom 2021 event, where a ton was shown off like the initial drive in Forza Horizon 5, the official FH5 cover cars and art, and more.

Where is the location for Forza Horizon 5?

Forza Horizon 5 aims to be the largest and most diverse Forza Horizon game ever, and that means it needs to be set in a location that can accommodate its lofty ambitions. Fortunately, Playground Games found the perfect setting, as Forza Horizon 5 takes the series back to the North American continent with Mexico. FH5 will feature a huge variety of different environments and locales, with dynamic weather, the return of seasons, and so much more.

Our ultimate guide to Forza Horizon 5’s map includes everything you need to know about FH5 and its rendition of Mexico, including just how big the map is in comparison to previous Forza Horizon games, an overview of different locations you’ll be able to explore, and a peek at the full Forza Horizon 5 map in all its glory.

What are all the cars and vehicles in Forza Horizon 5?

While Forza Horizon 5’s location is undoubtedly a massive part of the game, it’s absolutely the cars that make or break most racing games. This is an area where Forza games rarely struggle, and FH5 intends to up the ante by offering the largest launch list of cars in a Forza Horizon game yet.

It can be tough to keep track of every car in a Forza Horizon game, especially when you’re looking for something specific, but our Forza Horizon 5 full car list is constantly updated with every car we know of, including gifts, DLC additions, special cars, and much more.

We already know of nearly 350 cars that are going to appear in Forza Horizon 5 at launch, and Playground Games continually confirms new vehicles as we inch closer to release day.

What is the story and campaign in Forza Horizon 5?

While the story or plot in a racing game may not be the most crucial element for some players, it does still add to the atmosphere and, dare I say, immersion of the experience. Forza Horizon 4 was gently criticized by the community for its lackluster story and general lack of direction for players, so Playground Games went back to the drawing board for Forza Horizon 5. FH5 will take players on a journey through the Horizon Festival to have their name added to the Hall of Fame, and the drive there should be pretty wild.

Playground obviously doesn’t want to spoil too much about Forza Horizon 5’s story, but they still shared a ton of new gameplay and story details in one of their FH5 streams, which highlights the player-first direction they’ve taken.

Here’s everything we know about the story and campaign in Forza Horizon 5:

• The story of Horizon Mexico. Forza Horizon 5 is canonically set directly after the events of Forza Horizon 4. Players are still basking in the glory of emerging as the championing during the FH4 Festival, and have been sent to Mexico to aid in setting up Horizon Mexico, the next major Horizon Festival.
  • Haley is your number one when it comes to the know-how of Horizon Mexico and making things happen. She’s a good friend of Keira, who filled a similar role in Forza Horizon 4 (and is apparently still there looking after Horizon Britain).
  • You are the boss of Horizon Mexico, and that means it’s up to you to decide what direction the Festival goes in. It’s also important to note that you are the champion of Horizon Britain, so your name is known far and wide in Mexico.
• Hall of Fame. The eventual goal of Horizon Mexico and Forza Horizon 5’s story is to be accepted into the Hall of Fame, which is reserved for only the greatest and most skilled racers around. There are hundreds of paths players can take to reach the Hall of Fame, meaning the story in FH5 is ultimately still yours to direct.
• Horizon Adventure. The guiding, overarching entity in Forza Horizon 5’s story is the Horizon Adventure, which gives players a broad outline of what they’re able to do and how they’re able to progress to the Hall of Fame. This means that, unlike FH4, you’ll always have guidance on where you can go next. The Horizon Adventure splits FH5’s massive map into several categories, with each category featuring chapters that players can unlock and play through at their discretion. In order to progress through Horizon Adventure and eventually reach the Hall of Fame, players will need to earn Accolades.
  • Horizon Adventure has its own charming screen in FH5 that clearly outlines the areas and chapters, and will be the hub from which players will choose their path. The Horizon Adventure screen is visually distinct with amazing-looking stylized graphics.
  • The Horizon Adventure is how you unlock Expeditions (covered below), new Festival sites, Showdowns, and much more.
  • Individual areas in the Horizon Adventure feature unique themes, Festival sites, Horizon Stories, and much more.
  • It’ll take approximately 10 to 20 hours for most players to finish the Horizon Adventure and reach the Hall of Fame.
• Accolades. Forza Horizon 5 will feature literally thousands of “Accolades,” which are mini objectives that players can complete that cover practically every aspect of the game. Absolutely everything in FH5, including playing online, painting cars, growing your car collection, winning races, exploring the map, and more can earn you Accolades, which in turn reward Accolade Points. It’s these points that are used to unlock new chapters and areas of the Horizon Adventure and progress the campaign.
  • There are thousands of Accolades, but players will not need to 100% them to finish the FH5 story. After completing the campaign, there will still be plenty of reasons to play and new Accolades to complete.
  • Accolade progression continues no matter how you play FH5, be it with solo play, online, in co-op, or anywhere else.
• Expeditions. There are six Horizon Festival sites in Forza Horizon 5, and each one of them will require progressing through the Horizon Adventure and completing an Expedition. These Expeditions are full-scale road trips across various parts of Mexico, with cinematic cutscenes, story-driven narrative brought to you by Ramiro (Rami, for short), FH5’s enthusiastic tour guide, and huge set pieces that showcase the graphical and technical prowess of Forza Horizon 5.
  • Expeditions will go all over Mexico, including over an active volcano, through a storm-torn jungle, and more. Expeditions will also put players behind the wheel of a variety of vehicles.
  • Expeditions will also feature optional Accolades to complete while on your journey, like finding specific locations, taking pictures, choosing spots for gear and sites, and more.
  • You can play Expeditions by yourself, or in co-op with friends, and all progress is retained no matter what.
• Horizon Stories. Forza Horizon 4 introduced a new way to experience a single-player campaign with Horizon Stories. With Forza Horizon 5, they’re bigger than ever. Forza Horizon 5’s Stories are part of a deeper and more rewarding campaign, and provide multiple avenues to explore the world. Players can meet dozens of new characters and decide the outcome of their individual stories, and some Barn Finds are even unlocked through Horizon Stories.
• Horizon Showcases. Forza Horizon’s massive Showcase events have always been a way to show off how far the game can go, and give players an opportunity to display their skills and feel like a true racing master. In Forza Horizon 5, players will be able to participate in four Horizon Showcases, which promise to be bigger and grander than ever before. The first Showcase pits players against a cargo plane, and another Showcase will have players race a train once again.

What are the features and gameplay in Forza Horizon 5?

A new Forza Horizon game always comes with at least a handful of new features and improvements over its predecessor, but Forza Horizon 5 seems set on delivering even greater amounts of content to players. The extra year of development Forza Horizon 5 got over previous entries in the series clearly helped things along because there is a lot about which to talk.

Not only has Playground Games baked in significantly more content into Forza Horizon 5’s base game, but it’s also given the community a way to add essentially infinite new events and races to Forza Horizon 5 over time. FH5’s online features have also seen significant improvements to more completely connect players all around the world. We’ll constantly add to this section as we learn more about all the additions in Forza Horizon 5, so be sure to check in regularly.

From the addition of convertibles to major updates for creators, Forza Horizon 5 is a big upgrade for Forza. Playground also knows how to work up hype for a game, as they continue to show off new Forza Horizon 5 gameplay and details through periodic streams.

Here’s everything we know about the features and gameplay in Forza Horizon 5:

Game features and visuals

Playground Games wants this to be the biggest Forza Horizon in more ways than one, which means players have more ways to play and more reasons to keep returning. This is also by far one of the most gorgeous games we’ve ever seen, and Playground Games has achieved this feat with several methods.

Here are some of the best features about Forza Horizon 5 and its visuals:

• Horizon Festival. Forza Horizon has always revolved around the “Horizon Festival,” a fictional event that belongs in every car lover’s dreams. Pro racers from all over the world converge in one location, for exactly one purpose: to race. The Horizon Festival returns in Forza Horizon 5, and players are once again put in charge. Like Forza Horizon 4, multiple Festival sites can be opened, which unlocks new races and event types. Playground Games has also confirmed a new Horizon Festival logo for FH5. Six Horizon Festivals in total will be available in Forza Horizon 5.
  • Horizon Mexico is the main Horizon Festival sites in Forza Horizon 5, where players will begin their journey. This site is situated on an abandoned air strip (right for drag races) and right next to a fantastic racing circuit
  • Horizon Apex is one of the new Horizon Festivals that has been confirmed, and will feature a number of asphalt road races, and focuses on high-performance vehicles
  • Horizon Wilds is another Horizon Festival, and is practically the opposite of Apex, as it revolves around dirt roads and offroad racing
• Barn Finds. Barn Finds have been a mainstay feature in the Forza Horizon franchise, where players can look for long-lost cars buried throughout the world. Barn Finds are returning in Forza Horizon 5, and Playground has said that FH5’s Barn Finds are the most detailed and location-specific Barn Finds ever. Barn Finds are also discovered in different ways, such as through Horizon Stories, during Expeditions, and more.
• Visuals and graphics. One of the most impressive parts about Forza Horizon 5 has indubitably been its eye-catching and mind-boggling visuals, which rank among some of the most impressive graphics we’ve ever seen in a video game. Several things factor into this achievement, including:
  • The use of photogrammetry, which has Playground Games send dedicated teams of photographers all over Mexico to take thousands of pictures of locations and objects, to accurately capture everything from the individual needles on a cactus to the unique texture of volcanic boulders. Almost everything in Forza Horizon 5 is based on photogrammetry
  • A 12K resolution recording of the real Mexican sky, meaning the sky you see in Forza Horizon 5 literally couldn’t look more authentic if it tried. This also makes the sky feel more dynamic as time passes and the weather changes
  • The addition of more 3D effects, like in new dynamic weather events, which evolve from pure textures to actual 3D occurrences that can affect the world and player perspective
  • The addition of ray tracing when in Forzavista, showcasing Forza Horizon 5’s cars in the most realistic light possible
  • The highest amount of detail on roads for a Forza Horizon game, including location-specific textures (like deteriorating quality as players approach the volcano)
  • Hundreds of cinematics and cutscenes, which tie in with FH5’s newly revitalized story and campaign elements
• Photo and Drone Modes. Forza Horizon games have always been visual showcases, and it stands to reason that players would want to show off their custom cars when playing. Photo Mode is absolutely returning in Forza Horizon 5, and will take advantage of FH5’s numerous visual and graphical upgrades. On top of this, Drone Mode is seemingly making a return in FH5, letting players fly around Mexico by leaving their cars behind.
• Updated user interface (UI). The UI in Forza Horizon 5 is finally getting a long-overdue redesign, which aims to make activities like car customization and more in Forza Horizon 5 more accessible and efficient. Menus are simplified and are easier to scan, while various menus are completely redesigned, such as car upgrades and customization.
  • It hasn’t been entirely confirmed yet, but it looks like Forza Horizon 5 may do away with the much-criticized “white room” victory screen in Forza Horizon 4, and returns to a more dynamic and visually appealing location-based cinematic
• Improved accessibility. Accessibility in games is extremely important, and Playground Games seems to recognize this. While details haven’t been shared yet, Playground Games promises Forza Horizon 5 is by far and away the most accessible Forza Horizon game so far, with new accessibility settings and options.
  • Forza Horizon 5 wants to be the most inclusive and easy-to-access Forza Horizon game yet, and part of this means providing more information to players about the optimal car and track combinations for races. Players will still have the freedom to drive any car they want anywhere they want, but the game will be better at helping players that want that help to pick the right car for the situation
  • A new “Tourist” difficulty will offer new assists and settings for newcomers to racing games and Forza Horizon, so that anyone can play at a pace they’re comfortable with
• Drivatars and traffic. Drivatars are returning in Forza Horizon 5, as expected, giving players realistic and challenging opponents to go up against when not racing online. Something that hasn’t been seen but is now confirmed is that civilian traffic is also returning in FH5, so be prepared to race around these minor inconveniences when jumping into the game.
• Improvements to the wheel experience. Many racing game fans love to play with a dedicated driving wheel or even more elaborate setups for a more immersive feel. Forza Horizon has never been considered to be one of the best games for lovers of wheels over controllers or mouse and keyboard, but Playground Games apparently vastly improved the wheel experience in Forza Horizon 5.
  • Force feedback has been greatly improved, partially thanks to improved physics systems like suspensions and braking
  • Far more settings and options for players who use a wheel, which are also contextual

Open world, biomes, and seasons

We already know Forza Horizon 5 is set in Mexico, but it turns out there’s a lot more going on behind the scenes. Forza Horizon 5, of course, has a broad open world to explore, and marks the return of seasons that were introduced in Forza Horizon 4. However, Forza Horizon 5’s map is the largest and most diverse world we’ve ever seen in a Forza Horizon game, with major changes even for existing features like seasons and weather.

Forza Horizon 5’s Let’s Go! Episode 4 stream was all about biomes and gave us a ton of information about different parts of the FH5 world. Every info drop we’ve gotten indicates the world in FH5 will be bigger and more diverse than ever, and it’s very exciting.

Here are some of the best features about Forza Horizon 5’s world:

• 1.5 times larger than Forza Horizon 4. True to their word, Playground Games has made Forza Horizon 5 the biggest Forza Horizon game yet, with a map approximately 1.5 times the size of Forza Horizon 4’s Britain. That’s a lot of ground to cover, and it features a huge variety of different locations, including:
  • The largest highway in a Forza Horizon game yet, which stretches nearly corner to corner in Forza Horizon 5
  • Several towns and cities, all of which capture Mexican culture in beautiful and colorful ways
  • The return of multiple Horizon Festival sites, with the first Festival site being located on top of an old racetrack and airstrip (that’s right, drag racing!)

• Eleven different biomes. To diversify the largest map in a Forza Horizon game to date, Playground has included 11 different biomes for players to explore. Every biome will have unique attributes, and interact with weather and seasons in different ways. Biomes will also blend together seamlessly, instead of abruptly cutting off at points. The 11 confirmed biomes include:
  • Arid hills — An excellent choice for offroading fans, the Arid Hills biome features dry and grassy plains and hills, and even features a lake that dries up in the winter and opens up new secrets and routes.
  • Canyon — One of the more striking FH5 areas, the Canyon biome is filled with unique rock formations and striations, including the existence of hoodoos (rock pillars and columns) and tons of reverb and echoes for audio.
  • Farmland — Farmlands in FH5 aren’t like the farms in previous games, and actually feature lots of hilly and varied terrain filled with diverse foliage and vegetation, fruit-bearing trees, and much more for players to explore.
  • Jungle — As in the real world, the Jungle biome in FH5 is the most foliage dense and claustrophobic of all the biomes, with a ton of trees and other vegetation, heavy fog from heat and humidity, and a ton of secrets for players to discover
  • Living Desert — Not every desert is dry and full of nothing but sand, as is proven by the Living Desert biome in FH5, which features a ton of vegetation like cactuses and flowers, and even boasts of unique rock formations.
  • Urban City — Headlined by Guanajuato, the Urban City biome is exactly as the name implies: an urban area densely packed with beautiful buildings showcasing Mexican architecture and culture, and lots of tight roads to drive down
  • Sand Desert — The Sand Desert biome is closer to your typical desert, and is perfect for speed demons and offroading fanatics, as it features tons of towering sand dunes and long, straight roads.
  • Swamp — One of the most interesting biomes in FH5 is the Swamp, an absolutely gorgeous area that connects jungles to oceans and is filled with beautiful blue-green shallow water, rooted mangrove trees that can be crashed through, and more.
  • Tropical Coast — Most of the time, the Tropical Coast biome in FH5 is the definition of a picturesque Mexican vacation, with resorts, long white-sanded beaches, palm trees, and more, but that all changes with tropical storms in the wet season.
  • Rocky Coast — While it’s still bordering the ocean, the Rocky Coast biome is the polar opposite of the Tropical Coast (and actually appears on opposite ends: tropical in the East and rocky in the West), and is characterized by unique rock formations, long uninterrupted beaches, and a golf course.
  • Volcano — Another of the most anticipated FH5 biomes, the Volcano is not only the largest geographical location ever in a Forza Horizon game, but it’s also the highest and features blistering blizzards, long winding roads, and even a volcanic research center and satellite dish.
• The return of seasons. Forza Horizon 4’s innovative seasons system is returning, but things are a little different this time around. While seasons in Britain have very clear dividers between them, making for immediately obvious differences, Mexico’s wide variety of ecosystems and environments means all four seasons affect all 11 biomes in different ways. This means:
  • Every season will behave and look different depending on where you are on the map
  • You can be in a blizzard on the mountain top and then drive down to the sweltering coast
  • Biomes will completely change for different seasons, including some areas only being accessible during a specific season
  • Seasons affect gameplay in new and exciting ways, and is even more deeply integrated into the world. There are new events, challenges, and rewards for every season
  • The season will still change once every week
  • Seasons are also localized for how they appear in Mexico, meaning Spring is actually the Hot Season, Summer is the Wet Season, Autumn is the Storm Season, and Winter is the Dry Season
• Dynamic and localized weather. One of the most exciting additions to Forza Horizon 5 is dynamic and localized weather. Yes, the weather in Forza Horizon 4 looked amazing, but when it was raining in one area, it was raining everywhere. In Forza Horizon 5, weather exists in specific areas, can be seen in the distance, and can be tracked down by players. Forza Horizon 5’s weather system includes:
  • Storm chasing, which means players can keep an eye out for major storms and literally track them across Forza Horizon 5’s world. While it hasn’t been confirmed yet, this could make for an excellent Horizon Story in the game.
  • Tropical and dust storms, which have huge and dramatic effects on the world. Dust storms are 3D, encapsulating everything and obstructing your view. Tropical storms shred trees and everything else in the area with high levels of wind, causing a buildup of debris.
  • These storms can grow and swell as they occur, but tend to stick in the location they started in. Storms can appear in multiple locations around the map.
• The best Forza Horizon sky yet. Related to the new seasons and dynamic weather effects, Playground has also put in the effort to ensure the sky in Forza Horizon 5 is the most impressive ever put in a game.
  • Playground Games used an updated version of their sky capture rig, which uses three 8K cameras to stitch together a 12K picture of the sky.
  • Over 400 hours and 75TB of the Mexican sky was recorded, with the best parts picked out to be used in FH5.
  • Forza Horizon 5 uses advanced interpolation and algorithms to seamlessly stitch these recordings together, creating a nonstop and authentic Mexican sky.
  • All this work means there are significantly more weather presets for races and events, up to 2,000 (versus just over 300 in Forza Horizon 4).
• Authentic Mexican representation. Playground Games is obviously proud of the world it built for Forza Horizon 5, and its developers have mentioned that Mexico features a wonderful and deep culture in its people, locations, and cars. Playground has always strived to represent the cultures in the locations of its games accurately, and FH5, like in many other ways, aims to turn this up to 11.
  • Original compositions from Mexican musicians for FH5’s soundtrack
  • Original artwork and murals from seven Mexican artists, including the one in the FH5 debut gameplay trailer by Farid Rueda
  • Mexican writers and voice actors, which portray many of the characters in FH5
• New and updated world features. There’s obviously more to Forza Horizon 5’s improvements on top of these major changes as well, including (but not limited to):
  • A ton of foliage, including cactus, is smashable in Forza Horizon 5, so you don’t have to worry about them getting in your way
  • Animals are making a return, including flamingos, wild dogs, donkeys, goats, horned sheep, parrots and other birds, and more. Animals are more intelligent than in Forza Horizon 4, and can even have unique behaviors
  • A ridiculous attention to detail, including how flocks of monarch butterflies can appear in certain locations and certain times of the year, coinciding with the annual monarch butterfly migration that moves through Mexico

You can see more screenshots of Forza Horizon 5’s gorgeous world below.

If there’s one thing that brings Forza Horizon players together like nothing else, it’s the sheer level of creative freedom afforded by the games. Forza Horizon 5 wants to be the most customizable and inclusive Forza Horizon yet, and it also gears for infinite replayability with new player tools and features. Players have control over their cars, in-game characters, races, and even full-blown unique events you can’t find anywhere else.

Here are the best features about Forza Horizon 5’s car, character, and event customization:

• New car customizations. Cars are in everything you do in Forza Horizon 5, so it makes sense that you’d have a lot of control over your vehicles. Forza Horizon has always given players a lot of freedom to make their cars look and drive the way they want, but new additions have been lacking lately. Forza Horizon 5 finally adds a ton of new options, including:
  • Major improvements to the interface for designing and painting cars, to make it closer to modern image editing software
  • Hundreds of new visual upgrade parts for cars
  • Over 100 new rim options
  • Thousands of new performance upgrades for cars, including over 500 new engine swaps
  • The ability to paint brake calipers, which has been a requested feature for years now
  • Fully body kits, which significantly alter the look of supported cars
• Improved car physics. One of the smaller, but still welcomed, improvements in Forza Horizon 5 is the return of “drivetrain flex,” which essentially refers to how cars wobble when revving their engines or accelerating. This ties into massively improved (and rebuilt) suspension and braking systems, which contribute to more realistic offroading in FH5 (and a brand-new “Offroad” performance stat for all cars). Apparently, these updates actually make driving easier in FH5, since cars behave closer to how you’d expect.
• Improved car engine sounds. One of the biggest community complaints about Forza Horizon 4 was its lackluster car engine sounds, which often didn’t accurately reflect the cars, and even repeated engine noises across cars. Playground has assuaged concerns from players and stated that their audio team has devoted a ton of time to improving engine noises in Forza Horizon 5.
  • If you want to know more about how the audio has improved in Forza Horizon 5, be sure to check out the “Audio” section below!
• Improved tire smoke and effects. The Forza Horizon community has also critiqued the tire smoke in Forza Horizon games in the past, and even here Playground is listening. Tire smoke in Forza Horizon 5 is getting a big upgrade to have more volume and presence in the world, and these upgrades also apply to other effects like kicking up sand or dirt. Tire smoke even changes depending on how hot your tires are and how hot the current season is.
• Return of perks. Every car you drive in Forza Horizon 5 will still have a collection of perks you can spend skill points to unlock, which will grant unique bonuses and perks to your car (such as increased XP or credits, or even new cars).
• Car Collection screen. Forza Horizon 5 features a Car Collection screen, which is almost a “sticker book” of every available car in the game. Players can come here to view their car collection and see what vehicles they’re missing, purchase missing cars in the collection directly from this screen, and even redeem rewards for reaching milestones and completing manufacturer collections. Rewards include XP, credits, and even exclusive Forza Edition cars.
• New character customizations. In-game characters have taken the spotlight more in recent Forza Horizon games, giving players another way to express themselves and personalize their game experience. Forza Horizon 5 characters are getting a similar treatment to cars, with all-new ways to customize them, including:
  • Major improvements to inclusivity, including options for pronouns, a more diverse selection of base characters, and prosthetic limbs
  • Hundreds of new clothing options
  • New choices for voices and hairstyles
  • While rarer clothing items are still obtained through Horizon Wheelspins, most of FH5’s clothing and character customization items can be obtained through a new dedicated clothing shop
• EventLab. Likely one of the most exciting additions to Forza Horizon 5 for many players, EventLab is a full-blown level editor. This isn’t like the race editor feature from Forza Horizon 4, which lets you design custom tours and events from preexisting tracks. EventLab adds near-infinite possibilities to Forza Horizon 5, and includes a ton of features like:
  • Tools and options similar to the ones used by Forza Horizon developers
  • The ability to individually place objects, tracks, items, and more, to custom design your track or world
  • The ability to choose game objectives and rules, to create something truly unique
  • EventLab is similar to Super7, but apparently provides more power and control in every way
  • EventLab will improve over time as the community provides feedback
  • Races made in EventLab can even appear on the FH5 map for players
  • Playground will pick the best and coolest modes and events from EventLab to showcase in Festival Playlists and Horizon Arcade
  • Possibilities are endless enough that Playground genuinely has no idea what the community will be able to accomplish with EventLab

• Convertible cars. Convertible cars have existed in Forza Horizon games before, but with FH5 you’ll be able to put the top off or take it down with the click of a single button, even when you’re out in the wide FH5 world! This is an awesome addition, and the above clip shows the attention to detail players can expect when they get into a convertible.
• Driving modes. Related to how some cars will have convertible tops that can be toggled on the go, different cars in Forza Horizon 5 may also feature different driving modes that players can toggle between. The only car we know of that supports this at the moment is the titular Mercedes-AMG ONE, which can toggle between street and track modes, but other cars may also feature this ability.

Online play and social features

Online and social features have long been a huge part of Forza Horizon, connecting players across the open world and making it easier to play together. Forza Horizon 5 is making big changes to make online play more accessible and seamless than ever before, with a host of new features to incentivize players to participate in online events and play. This means new tools, events, and more in Forza Horizon 5.

Here are some of the best features about Forza Horizon 5’s online play:

• Horizon Open. Forza Horizon 5 is condensing its classic Forza Horizon PvP modes under one barrier, with players able to seamlessly leap into races, challenges, and events while driving around in the massive open world. With this change, Forza Horizon 5 is more “MMO-like,” with all players connected simultaneously. This is also contextual, so players are more likely to run into other players in different locations, like cities.
• Horizon Tour. Related to Horizon Open, Tour lets players meet up together and travel to new race locations, either to race against each other or Drivatars. You can see players jump into races all over Forza Horizon 5 and join them in their Tour. Tour teams up with LINC (below) for more seamless online play.
• Horizon Arcade. Forza Horizon 5 is packed with over 130 new mini-games, spread across 12 different game modes, all of which fit under the Horizon Arcade banner. These aren’t game modes you need to search for. Instead, they happen dynamically all over the Forza Horizon 5 map as public events while you’re driving around with other players. Participate in these spontaneous events to earn new rewards and more, and be automatically linked to the next event if you want to keep playing.
• Forza LINC. Forza Horizon’s ANNA AI isn’t going anywhere, but the antiquated “Chat” option is being replaced with another AI: LINC. LINC intelligently keeps track of what players enjoy playing, how they’ve progressed, and what they’re currently up to when playing online, and helps you connect with other people with seamless and easy recommendations.
• Kudos. A new social currency in Forza Horizon 5, Kudos can be gifted to players (or recieved) at any point. This is to encourage players to practice fair and generous gameplay, as Kudos can be gifted for helping players out, being a good sport, giving Gift Drops, and more. Collecting Kudos can help you unlock new flairs, which can be attached to your player label.
• Gift Drops. Gift Drops are similar to Barn Finds, except players can tune and design their own cars, and then hide them in the world for a specific group of Forza Horizon players. Anyone in Forza Horizon 5 under that group has a chance to find the Gift Drop, and then they get to keep the car. This is a great way of encouraging charitable play in Forza Horizon 5.
• Festival Playlists. Returning from Forza Horizon 4, Festival Playlists are new and improved in FH5. Weekly and monthly updates are still planned for Forza Horizon 5, with Festival Playlists offering several hours of additional gameplay every week and exclusive rewards. Playground is apparently taking everything they’ve learned from FH4 and applying it to FH5.
• Co-op support. Everything in Forza Horizon 5 can be played in co-op, including the campaign chapters and Expeditions. Progress is maintained no matter how you play, so there’s no barrier to playing in co-op.
  • You can start playing online or with co-op immediately after the opening drive and first Horizon Story in FH5
• Better accessibility and inclusion. Playground Games wanted to make Forza Horizon 5 more accessible, especially as players become more likely to return after months-long absences or play older games for the first time through Xbox Game Pass. Some of these improvements include:
  • A more seamless and natural transition from single-player campaign play to the live service Festival Playlist
  • Less focus on purely winning and more of a focus on having fun and winning if you can

Audio and car sounds

Forza Horizon 4 is a fantastic game in practically every way, but there is one thing that it consistently lacks in according to the Forza community: car sounds. Forza Horizon 4 uses the same car sounds repeatedly for multiple vehicles, features low-quality recordings, and has a tendency to make every car sound practically the same. One of the biggest question marks surrounding Forza Horizon 5 has been whether or not audio will be noticeably improved. Now, we finally have some answers.

Playground Games recently held a stream detailing Forza Horizon 5 audio improvements, and there’s hardly anything to be upset about. It seems Playground has invested substantial time into improving not just engine noises in FH5, but all audio in general. You can even watch a Forza Horizon 5 gameplay trailer just showing off improved car audio, which is awesome for fans. Finally, there’s this interview with Jalopnik that offers another look into the “how” of audio in FH5.

There’s enough here for audio and car sounds to earn its own section in our ultimate Forza Horizon 5 guide, so let’s get started. Here’s what you need to know about audio in Forza Horizon 5:

• No more “dyno” recording method. Many other racing games use the “dyno” method to record their car audio, which effectively straps a car in and records it revving up to max. This method is officially retired in FH5, as it’s inherently limiting and doesn’t accurately capture a car’s complex sounds.
• Live recording on a track or airstrip. Instead, Forza Horizon 5 leans fully into Playground Games’ favorite method of recording: strapping a bunch of microphones to a car and driving it around. This leads to more authentic and varied engine sounds per car.
• Over 320 new car recordings. During the development of FH5, Playground has recorded over 320 new car recordings on top of the existing library in Forza Horizon 4, a huge surplus that should lead to more varied sounds.
  • Playground also went the extra mile by ensuring they recorded a ton of different individual upgrade parts and levels, so that engine sounds can accurately shift with the addition of new and improved upgraded parts
• Major improvements to car audio. With over 320 new live car recordings, Playground is already set up for massively improved audio in Forza Horizon 5. However, car engine noises are getting several other major enhancements in FH5, including:
  • 100% use of the granular synthesis technique, versus only 10-15% in Forza Horizon 4. Granular synthesis lets Playground chop up audio files into many segments and stitches them together seamlessly as needed. This means no matter how you’re driving, your cars will always sound dynamic and natural
  • Car audio is always 90 FPS, versus the 60 FPS the game plays at normally. Combined with granular synthesis, this means car sounds in Forza Horizon 5 are incredibly reactive, with no gaps between action and sound
  • Forza Horizon 5 also uses a brand-new modular audio system, which can intelligently recognize your car, its engine type, and its various engine upgrades, and pull from the existing library of sounds to create a unique and natural sound, including for engine upgrades like turbochargers, superchargers, exhausts, and much more, and distinct sounds like transmission whines and the characteristic sound of an electric or hybrid car
  • Improvements to tire sounds are also included, with FH5 able to use all of its upgrades (including the new modular system) to adapt tire sounds to the car and tire type being used
• Engine upgrades can be heard in real-time. If you’re excited to try out the upgraded audio in Forza Horizon 5 by upgrading your car with various new performance parts, you’re in luck. FH5 will let you hear engine upgrades in real-time while customizing your car with a new “Rev engine” button. This will let you hear the difference between different engine upgrades like intakes, camshafts, and more, and even between entire engine swaps.
• Improvements to first-person audio. If you prefer to drive your car in first person, you’re in luck! Audio is also getting major improvements in this department to elevate the cockpit feel to a new level. Some of the improvements include:
  • Audio can be muffled accurately when inside a closed car
  • New FH5 audio systems can track how sound travels around the inside of a car, including reverb
  • Convertibles will have different first-person soundscapes depending on whether or not the top is up or down
• Audio ray tracing. While visual ray tracing is limited to Forzavista (which includes the menu for upgrading your car!), audio ray tracing is being applied to the entire game. This means Forza Horizon 5 can trace audio as it bounces off the environment like walls, ceilings, buildings, and more. Reverb and echoes will be realistic and accurate, especially in environments like tunnels.
  • Ray tracing occlusion also means players will be able to pinpoint the locations of nearby cars (even around buildings and other obstacles) by the noises of their engines
• Forza Horizon 5 sounds better on Xbox Series X|S. Microsoft’s current-gen gaming consoles have unlocked a new compression format for audio. This means FH5 will have higher fidelity audio on Xbox Series X|S, which applies to all audio, including music, environmental noises, and car sounds.
• All cars benefit. Finally, it should be noted that all cars in FH5 will benefit from these audio improvements. This means whether you’re exploring the world by yourself, playing online with others, or racing through Mexico, all the cars around you will reflect all of these audio improvements.
• Horizon Bass Arena returns. Many fans were concerned that Forza Horizon’s infamous Horizon Bass Arena radio station wouldn’t return in FH5, but those fears have been assuaged. Bass Arena is coming back better than ever, and it’ll still feature charismatic host Scott Tyler at its helm, who is the only character in the Forza Horizon franchise to appear in every single entry.

What platforms will get Forza Horizon 5?

Forza Horizon 5 is heading to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, and Xbox Cloud Gaming. It’ll be available on day one on Xbox Game Pass. Forza Horizon 5 is not coming to other platforms like PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch, Google Stadia, or Amazon Luna.

Here’s everything you need to know about every platform Forza Horizon 5 is launching on.

Xbox Series X|S

Forza Horizon 5 has been designed from the ground up to show off what the Xbox Series X|S current-gen consoles are capable of, and it delivers. Playground Games has already revealed the Forza Horizon 5 performance targets for Xbox Series X|S, and we like what we see. It’s been made clear from the very beginning that Forza Horizon 5 is going to look fantastic on Xbox Series X|S, with a wide range of supported features.

Here’s everything you need to know about Forza Horizon 5 on Xbox Series X|S

• Performance targets. To get the most technical (and arguably least important) information out of the way first, here’s how Forza Horizon 5 runs on Xbox Series X|S:
  • 4K resolution and 30 FPS on Xbox Series X in Quality Mode
  • 1080p resolution and 30 FPS on Xbox Series S in Quality Mode
  • 4K resolution and 60 FPS on Xbox Series X in Performance Mode
  • 1080p resolution and 60 FPS on Xbox Series X in Performance Mode
• Parity between consoles. Aside from resolution, the experience between Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S should be almost identical, with both consoles managing to push similar graphical and visual settings.
• Ray tracing. Forza Horizon 5 is the first Forza Horizon game to embrace ray tracing, which enables accurate and true-to-life tracking for lights, shadows, reflections, and much more. Forza Horizon 5 will support ray tracing on Xbox Series X|S at launch, although it’s limited to the Forzavista mode, where players can admire their cars in their full ray-traced glory.
• Smart Delivery. Like many other Xbox games that span generations, Forza Horizon 5 supports Xbox Smart Delivery. This means you have to buy Forza Horizon 5 only once for Xbox consoles, and Xbox will automatically download the best possible version of the game for the console you’re playing on, at no additional cost. This also includes Xbox cloud saves, meaning there’s full cross-progression between generations.
• Cross-platform play. Forza Horizon 5 embraces every platform it’s available on, which means it supports cross-play between Forza Horizon 5 on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, and Xbox Cloud Gaming. Cross-save is also supported across all of these platforms, with the exception of Forza Horizon 5 on Steam.
• Improved world and visuals. The power of Xbox Series X|S allows for improvements across the board for both gameplay and visuals. This includes features like:
  • Full HDR10 support for improved contrast and colors
  • Improved draw distances, so players can see farther and with more detail
  • Improved load speeds, so players can start racing faster
  • Improved details and textures for both cars and the world
  • Improved audio fidelity
  • Massively increased resolution for car paints and decals
• Xbox Series X faith. It’s clear that Playground Games has a lot of faith in how Forza Horizon 5 looks and runs on Xbox Series X, as it was confirmed that, as of the Let’s Go! Episode Five stream, practically everything that had been shown off of Forza Horizon 5 so far was running on Xbox Series X.

Xbox One

Xbox One may be “last-gen,” but they still have a lot of life left in them. Forza Horizon 5 is heading to Xbox One, Xbox One S, and Xbox One X when it launches on Nov. 9, and it should offer a fantastic experience when it does. We don’t know how well Forza Horizon 5 will run or look on Xbox One consoles when it launches, but we’re expecting it to be similar to how previous Forza Horizon games did.

Here’s everything you need to know about Forza Horizon 5 on Xbox One:

• Smart Delivery. If you buy Forza Horizon 5 while on Xbox One, know that you’ll always have the best experience possible wherever you play. Forza Horizon 5 will scale across all Xbox consoles using Smart Delivery, meaning you can buy and fall in love with the game while on Xbox One, and then immediately experience an upgraded version of Forza Horizon 5 when you move to an Xbox Series X or S.
• Cross-platform play. Forza Horizon 5 embraces every platform it’s available on, which means it supports cross-play between Forza Horizon 5 on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, and Xbox Cloud Gaming. Cross-save is also supported across all of these platforms, with the exception of Forza Horizon 5 on Steam.
• Improvements over Forza Horizon 4. Forza Horizon 4 already pushed the Xbox One generation of consoles to its limits when it came to graphics, so don’t expect Forza Horizon 5 to be a big visual jump when playing on Xbox One. That doesn’t mean there isn’t a ton to look forward to, including:
  • A bigger and more diverse world than ever before
  • Brand-new ways to play with new races, events, challenges, and more
  • Improved online multiplayer with in-world public events, more ways to find new friends and more
  • EventLab event editor, which allows full creative freedom to build new events, maps, and more
  • Tons of other improvements to customization, accessibility, cars, the world, and more

PC

Microsoft’s newfound and growing support of PC gaming means Forza Horizon 5 (and practically every other Xbox Game Studios title) launches on PC at the same time as Xbox platforms. Playground Games hasn’t divulged all the details for how Forza Horizon 5 will behave on PC, but you can rest assured knowing PC gamers will be able to experience the best Forza Horizon 5 has to offer (with the right hardware, of course).

Here’s everything you need to know about Forza Horizon 5 on PC:

• Minimum PC requirements. If you want to play Forza Horizon 5 on your PC, you need to make sure you at least achieve the minimum requirements to run Forza Horizon 5 on PC. Ideally, you’ll want to have much better hardware than the minimum requirements ask for, as Forza Horizon 5 will look and run worse with this hardware.
  • OS: Windows 10 version 15063.0 or higher
  • Processor: Intel i3-4170 @ 3.7GHz, Intel i5-750 @ 2.67GHz, or equivalent
  • Memory: 8GB RAM
  • Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 650 Ti, AMD R7 250x, or equivalent
  • DirectX: Version 12
  • Network: Broadband internet connection
  • Storage: 80GB available space
• Recommended PC requirements. Unfortunately, we currently don’t know the recommended PC requirements. If you’re looking to upgrade your PC to ensure it passes the test, be sure to check out our list of best graphics cards (GPUs) for PC gaming. Alternatively, you can invest in one of the best gaming desktops or best gaming laptops for an all-inclusive PC gaming experience.
• Xbox Play Anywhere. Forza Horizon 5 is an Xbox Play Anywhere title. This means you can buy any edition of Forza Horizon 5 directly from the Microsoft Store and instantly own the game on PC and Xbox, with cross-progression between the two versions. This is a fantastic pro-consumer feature and is awesome if you own both an Xbox and PC, or plan to in the future.
• Cross-platform play. On top of being an Xbox Play Anywhere title, Forza Horizon 5 also blends the lines between platforms and generations. No matter where you’re playing, Forza Horizon 5 supports full cross-play and cross-saves. The only exception is the Steam version of Forza Horizon 5, which still supports cross-play with all other versions but unfortunately does not support cross-save.
• The best of Forza. Just like how Forza Horizon 5 expertly scales from the near-ancient Xbox One to the new-and-glorious Xbox Series X, Forza Horizon 5 also scales on PC. If you have the hardware to run it, you can play Forza Horizon 5 at its very best (even better than Xbox Series X|S!) with higher resolutions and framerates than anywhere else. It’s all about the computer you’re using.
• No mod support. Forza Horizon 5, unfortunately, does not support any kind of mods on PC. This is likely to protect the online-centric nature of the game, but may be a disappointment for players who were hoping for full-fledged mod support in a Forza Horizon game. Instead, players are being given the EventLab editor, which features powerful developer-level tools for creating maps and events.

Xbox Cloud Gaming (xCloud)

Forza Horizon 5 has been confirmed to be heading to Xbox Cloud Gaming, previously known as Project xCloud, on day one. If you’re not familiar with Xbox Cloud Gaming, it’s included in Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (which also includes Xbox Game Pass for consoles and PC), and lets you play a wide variety of full-blown Xbox games on your phone, tablet, or laptop. This means you’ll not only be able to tear through the Mexican deserts on your Xbox console or PC while at home, but also while you’re on the go.

Here’s everything you need to know about Forza Horizon 5 on Xbox Cloud Gaming:

• Powered by Xbox Series X. Xbox Cloud Gaming has long been powered by server blades based on the aging Xbox One S console. Now, Xbox Cloud Gaming is officially built on top of custom Xbox Series X server blades, delivering superior load speeds, latency, performance, and visuals. Xbox Series X|S Optimized games get the greatest benefits, which will include Forza Horizon 5 when it launches.
  • Xbox Cloud Gaming streams games at up to 1080p and 60 FPS.
• Cross-platform play. Playing Forza Horizon 5 on Xbox Cloud Gaming doesn’t mean giving up on online multiplayer with your friends or managing a separate save. Forza Horizon 5 still supports full cross-play and cross-save on Xbox Cloud Gaming, just like it does on Xbox consoles. Play on PC or Xbox, then take your phone on the go and never lose a moment.
• Xbox One upgrade. This hasn’t been implemented yet, but Xbox Cloud Gaming will one day be used to bring current-gen-only games like Microsoft Flight Simulator or the upgraded version of Forza Horizon 5 to older Xbox One consoles. Using the power of the cloud, you’ll someday be able to play games far beyond the capabilities of the aging Xbox One consoles, breathing new life into the console platform. Xbox Cloud Gaming for Xbox One should arrive sometime in 2021, meaning it may be here in time for Forza Horizon 5.
• Mobile gaming. It should go without saying, but Forza Horizon 5 and Xbox Cloud Gaming means you can play one of the best racing games ever literally anywhere you have an internet connection. Be it your phone, a tablet, or even a non-gaming computer, Xbox Cloud Gaming aims to “just work.”

Forza Horizon 4 isn’t just one of the best Xbox racing games, it’s also one of the best Xbox games in general. There’s every reason to believe that Forza Horizon 5 will continue the trend and deliver an excellent racing experience to Xbox and PC.