Forza Horizon 6 is out now for individuals who pay additional forward of its wider launch on Might 19, and one factor followers have seen proper off the bat is that they can’t destroy cherry blossom trees. That is notable as a result of virtually all different timber within the recreation can be smashed.
Design director Torben Ellert defined to (*6*) that this was a deliberate choice performed to honor cultural traditions in Japan, which is the place the sport takes place.
“Virtually all timber within the recreation are smashable to make sure that traversing the world map is each enjoyable and rewarding. Nonetheless, a number of tree sorts aren’t, for instance, the cherry blossom timber, as a result of they’re an iconic aspect of Japanese tradition,” Ellert mentioned.
Moreover, gamers can’t crash by temples or different areas of “cultural significance,” he mentioned.
Cherry blossom timber in Japan are revered and revered because the embodiment of magnificence and mortality. Once they bloom in mid-March, they appeal to big crowds in main cities like Tokyo and appeal to worldwide vacationers whereas they’re in full bloom for a brief time frame.
In 2025, Forza Horizon 6 developer Playground mentioned it visited Japan to conduct analysis. The corporate additionally labored with a cultural guide, Kyoko Yamashita, who helped information the workforce, which is predicated within the UK, throughout improvement.
“Japan is extensively cherished, however it may also be extensively misinterpret whenever you solely see it from afar,” Yamashita mentioned. “The workforce wished to current greater than a postcard or a backdrop; they wished a lived-in world. Having a cultural guide early helps you make a thousand small, respectful selections: how neighborhoods sound, even what an indication shade communicates a couple of store. These small selections add as much as credibility and assist keep away from stereotypes, whereas additionally making it a really immersive expertise for gamers.”
One other recreation set in Japan (albeit within the sixteenth century), Murderer’s Creed Shadows, caught some flak for permitting individuals to destroy objects within the recreation’s shrines and injure monks in order that they bleed. A post-release replace made sure objects indestructible and prevented monks from bleeding. This got here after Japan’s Prime Minister spoke out, saying, “Defacing a shrine is out of the question–it is an insult to the nation itself.”
Forza Horizon 6 is at present obtainable for individuals who purchase the $120 premium version or those that pay $60 extra for the premium version improve bundle (and this consists of Recreation Cross members who simply cannot wait). The usual $70 version unlocks on Might 19, which can also be when Recreation Cross Final and PC Recreation Cross members can leap in. Regardless of the price of entry now through the early-release interval, Forza Horizon 6 clocked more than 165,000 peak concurrent players on Steam and ranks because the platform’s No. 2 best-selling game overall in the US, solely behind Subnautica 2.
Forza Horizon 6 is accessible now for Xbox and PC, and a PS5 model is coming later this 12 months. For extra, try GameSpot’s Forza Horizon 6 evaluation.