Microsoft and developer Playground Games accidentally uploaded the full PC build of Forza Horizon 6 to Steam without encryption [1, 2].
This error is significant because it bypassed the security measures intended to prevent early access, allowing pirates to crack the game and distribute it globally before the official launch. Such a breach can jeopardize the financial success of a major title by eroding day-one sales.
The leak involved the upload of 155 GB of data [1]. Because the files were not encrypted, the complete game became publicly accessible on the Steam digital distribution platform [3, 4]. The error occurred in early May 2024, roughly nine to 10 days before the game's scheduled release on May 19, 2024 [1, 3, 4].
Reports indicate the files were uploaded over a weekend preceding the release [5]. This technical oversight transformed a standard pre-load process into a total leak of the final product. Industry analysts said the incident was a multi-million-dollar error [2].
While the companies have not issued a formal statement regarding the specific cause, the evidence points to a mistake during the upload process [5, 6]. The availability of the unencrypted build meant that users could bypass the intended release window entirely, a failure in the pipeline between the developer and the storefront.
Pirates were able to access the files almost immediately after the upload error [2]. This has led to the game being played and shared across various unofficial channels, undermining the controlled marketing rollout planned by Microsoft.
“The entire 155 GB PC build of Forza Horizon 6 was uploaded to Steam without encryption.”
This incident highlights a critical vulnerability in the digital distribution pipeline where the reliance on storefront-level locks, rather than file-level encryption, can lead to total product loss. For Microsoft, the leak not only risks immediate revenue loss through piracy but also disrupts the carefully timed promotional cycle used to drive peak engagement and sales upon a game's official debut.
