Even though Microsoft has not yet officially announced Forza Horizon 6, a recent leak suggests that the highly anticipated racing game could be set in Japan. This speculation stems from an image reportedly shared and then removed by an Australian car import company on Instagram. The image purportedly showed a developer engaged in scanning Japanese “kei cars,” a detail that quickly caught the attention of the gaming community.
The original post, which circulated on the “Gaming Leaks and Rumours” subreddit, led many Forza Horizon fans to infer that the presence of Japanese kei cars—vehicles not commonly found in America—strongly indicated Japan as the game`s next location. However, this theory comes with a few caveats. For instance, Playground Games, the developer behind the Forza Horizon series, is based in the United Kingdom. This means the availability of cars in the U.S. has no direct bearing on their scanning operations. Furthermore, it raises the question of why a developer would scan a kei car in Australia instead of directly in Japan, where these `light vehicles` originate.
Forza Horizon 5`s Success and Past Settings
The most recent installment, Forza Horizon 5, takes players through the vibrant landscapes of Mexico. Interestingly, according to gaming analyst Alinea, this title has become the best-selling game on PS5 this year, despite previously being an Xbox exclusive. It made its debut on Sony`s console in April and is among several Xbox-owned titles, including Doom: The Dark Ages and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, that are reportedly performing well on the PlayStation 5.
The Forza Horizon franchise has explored various international settings but has yet to feature Japan. The series kicked off in a Colorado-inspired U.S. environment, followed by France and Italy in Forza Horizon 2. Forza Horizon 3 was set in Australia, while the fourth iteration brought players to Playground Games` home turf, Great Britain.
Forza Horizon 5, now four years old, continues to be praised for having one of the most engaging open worlds to explore, even in 2025.