Forza Horizon 6 is already dominating Steam's charts, even though most players won't get their hands on it until next week. The racing game has drawn over 172,000 concurrent players on Valve's platform during early access, a remarkable showing for a title that hasn't technically launched yet.
Early access opened today exclusively for those who purchased the Premium Edition, priced at $119.99. That paywall hasn't slowed momentum: the game is currently hovering around 160,000 players and ranks second globally on Steam's best-selling list, trailing only Subnautica 2.
The numbers tell a striking story about player appetite. Forza Horizon 5's launch in November 2021 peaked at just over 80,000 players. Horizon 6 has already doubled that figure before its official release date on May 19, 2026. The base edition will cost $69.99 when it goes live across PC and Xbox Series X and S.
Japan serves as the setting for this year's open-world racing adventure, replacing Mexico from the previous installment. Early reviews have been glowing. The critical reception appears to be driving some of the pre-launch enthusiasm, with outlets praising the game as a landmark entry in the racing genre.
Steam represents only a portion of the broader player ecosystem. The full launch next week could push these numbers considerably higher, particularly when console players join in and the title becomes available to anyone willing to pay for it rather than just Premium Edition buyers.
The early access period also gives developer Playground Games a window to monitor server stability and identify issues before the gates open completely. Players will unlock additional Festival Playlist rewards starting May 21.
Author Emily Chen: "These pre-launch numbers suggest Forza Horizon 6 could become a genuine phenomenon when the paywall drops next week."
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