Playground Games is developing Forza Horizon 6, a title featuring the largest and most vertical open world in the series set in Japan [1, 2].
This development marks a significant shift for the franchise by moving the setting to a region long requested by the community. The scale and verticality of the environment suggest a departure from the flatter landscapes of previous entries, potentially altering how players navigate and explore the map.
Mark Medina said gameplay impressions during a segment of IGN's Unlocked series [1, 2]. The discussion focused on the early looks at the game and the direction Playground Games is taking with the project [1, 3].
According to an IGN article author, the title is "shaping up to be the most ambitious Horizon yet" [1]. This ambition is reflected in the design of the Japanese landscape, which emphasizes both size, and elevation to create a more complex driving environment [2].
The gameplay impressions indicate that the project aims to exceed previous expectations for the series [1]. While specific technical details remain limited, the focus on a vertical open world indicates a push toward more diverse terrain and urban density [2, 3].
Medina's return to the Unlocked series provided a platform to speculate on the future of the franchise and how these new environmental features will impact the core racing mechanics [1].
“it's shaping up to be the most ambitious Horizon yet”
The move to Japan represents a strategic pivot for Playground Games, addressing a primary fan demand while leveraging verticality to solve the 'empty world' problem often found in massive open-world games. By increasing the Z-axis of the map, the developers can create higher density and more varied gameplay loops without necessarily increasing the total square mileage of the map.
