Playground Games has made cherry blossom trees indestructible in Forza Horizon 6 to protect iconic elements of Japanese culture [1].
This design choice marks a departure from the series' typical environmental destruction, signaling a priority for cultural sensitivity over gameplay realism. By limiting what players can destroy, the developer aims to maintain a respectful representation of Japan's landscape.
While most trees in the game can be destroyed, cherry blossoms, shrines, and temples remain unbreakable [3]. The developer said that the team wanted to ensure they were not disrespecting the cultural significance of these specific landmarks [2].
“We decided to make cherry blossom trees indestructible because they're an iconic element of Japanese culture,” a creative director at Playground Games said [1].
This decision applies to the game's map set in Japan [1]. The developers noted that the decision extended to other spiritual sites as well. A developer said, “We wanted to ensure we weren’t disrespecting the cultural significance of shrines, temples, and cherry blossom trees, so we made them indestructible” [2].
The game is scheduled for wide release on May 19, 2026 [3].
““We decided to make cherry blossom trees indestructible because they're an iconic element of Japanese culture.””
The decision to implement 'indestructible' assets reflects a growing trend in AAA game development toward cultural consultancy and sensitivity. By restricting the physics engine for specific cultural symbols, Playground Games is balancing the 'sandbox' appeal of the Forza series with the need to avoid potential backlash or accusations of cultural insensitivity toward Japanese heritage.
