Microsoft will avoid launching a game alongside Grand Theft Auto VI.
Traditionally, the Forza Horizon entries have arrived between September and November. However, according to prominent insider Nate the Hate, Playground Games is targeting a release for the sixth installment in the first half of 2026.
The autumn release window has consistently played to the franchise’s advantage: by July 2024 Forza Horizon 5 had attracted over 40 million players, and following its launch on PlayStation 5 it even briefly outsold several Sony exclusives.
But 2026 will be unusual. The main chart-titan, Grand Theft Auto VI, was pushed from May 26 to November 19, 2026. Almost every major developer — and many indies — will try to distance their launches from that date. Forza Horizon 6 belongs to a different genre, yet no one wants to take that risk, especially if the game could be ready earlier.
Source: iXBT.games