Forza Horizon 6 map is based on the same part of Japan as Pokémon Red/Blue


Forza Horizon 6 map is based on the same part of Japan as Pokémon Red/Blue
Tokyo drift (Microsoft)

Playground Games has revealed the full map for Forza Horizon 6, which encompasses Tokyo and the Japanese Alps.

Beyond the actual racing, one of the fundamental joys of Forza Horizon is exploring the vast recreations of real-world locations.

Past games have been set in Mexico, the UK, Australia, France, Italy, and the US, but the upcoming sixth instalment is heading to Asia for the first time, with the Japanese setting being highly requested by fans.

Developer Playground Games has now revealed the size of the map in Forza Horizon 6, and funnily enough it’s based on the same Kantō region which inspired Pokémon Red and Blue.

‘This is Horizon Japan!’ a tweet from the game’s official X account reads. ‘From the iconic downtown streets of Tokyo City all the way to the snowy Japanese Alps, Forza Horizon 6 introduces our most dense and vertical map yet.’

The map itself, if you compare it to the actual Kantō region in Japan, focuses on Tokyo and the Kanagawa prefecture. However, with the inclusion of the Japanese Alps at the top, it’s clear they’re taking some creative liberties in terms of 1:1 realism.

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Forza Horizon maps are fictionalised, truncated versions of a country, and for the sixth entry, the game’s art director, Don Arceta, has promised to showcase both the urban and rural parts of Japan.

Speaking to Xbox Wire last year, Arceta said: ‘From the neon lights and towering buildings of Tokyo City – one of our most detailed and layered environments to date – to the serenity and natural beauty of Japan’s rural and mountain areas, we think players will be blown away by the open world of Japan that we have built.’

While Forza Horizon 6 is coming to PlayStation 5 following its launch on Xbox Series X/S and PC on May 19, 2026, there is no word yet on whether it’ll come to the Switch 2.

In the past, Microsoft has talked about its plans to support Nintendo’s console, but it hasn’t delivered much so far, outside of ports of South Of Midnight and next month’s Indiana Jones And The Great Circle.

Forza Horizon 6 might be technically too demanding for Nintendo’s hybrid, but not necessarily, as the console has been able to run the likes of Resident Evil Requiem and Star Wars Outlaws surprisingly well.

Also, it’d be a chance to actually have a Pokémon crossover – even if it’s just car livery – which Nintendo probably would agree to, as they already allow Zelda references in the Switch port of Skyrim.

While that’s not going to happen any time soon (even the PlayStation 5 version is coming out after the Xbox one) reliable leaker billbil-kun has revealed that Forza Horizon 6 will be getting a limited edition Xbox wireless controller and headset.

Both will be released at the same time as the game, on May 19, with the controller expected to cost $89.99 and the headset $134.99. No UK prices have been leaked but similar accessories were released for Starfield at launch, which cost £69.99 and £114.99, respectively.

Screenshot of Forza Horizon 6
Forza Horizon 6 is out next month (Microsoft)

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