Recent leaks have sparked excitement among racing game enthusiasts, suggesting that Forza Horizon 6 might finally deliver on years of fan requests by setting its next open-world adventure in Japan. The successor to the critically acclaimed Forza Horizon 5 could mark the series' first venture into Northeast Asia, bringing its signature arcade racing experience to one of the world's most car-culture-rich nations.

The Forza Horizon series, developed by Playground Games, has built its reputation on creating expansive fictionalized versions of real-world locations. Previous installations have transported players to diverse settings including Colorado, the combined landscapes of France and Italy, Australia's Outback, Britain's countryside, and most recently, Mexico's vibrant environments. Each location has received praise for its authenticity and scale, but community demand has consistently pointed toward one particular destination that has yet to be featured.

With industry analysts predicting a new Forza Horizon release in 2026 to coincide with Xbox's 25th anniversary celebrations, speculation about the game's location has intensified. The conversation gained substantial traction when Australian car importer Cult and Classic shared a since-deleted Instagram post showing what appeared to be a Playground Games developer scanning "late-model Kei cars," specifically a Suzuki Every van. Given that Kei cars represent a uniquely Japanese automotive classification, this discovery strongly suggests that Forza Horizon 6 may indeed be heading to Japan.

Japan has consistently ranked as the most requested location among Forza Horizon enthusiasts, making this potential development particularly exciting. The country offers an incredible diversity of driving environments, from densely populated urban centers and scenic mountain passes (touges) to snow-covered landscapes and sophisticated highway networks. Beyond the varied terrain, Japan's automotive culture represents some of the most innovative and distinctive in the world, featuring subcultures like Bosozoku, stanced vehicles, RWB Porsches, and elaborately modified luxury cars that would bring fresh excitement to the racing genre.