Update – 22:31, May 11 – Playground Games and SteamDB have confirmed that the leak of Forza Horizon 6 was not due to a pre-load issue.
Playground Games shared, “We know a version of Forza Horizon 6 was accessed before its official release. This was not from a pre-load. We’re taking strict measures against those who accessed this build, including bans across the franchise. We advise fans to wait for the game’s launch on May 19.”
SteamDB noted that the early access may have been from a reviewer or someone with legitimate early access. They stated, “At the time, files showed up on SteamDB after someone used our token dumper. SteamDB does not share keys or downloads.”
Original Article – 12:01, May 11 – Files for Forza Horizon 6, the eagerly awaited racing game from Playground Games and Microsoft, have been accessed before its official launch on May 19.
Sharp-eyed users spotted unencrypted files on the game’s Steam page, making this leak possible. Early uploads can happen, but without proper encryption, the files can be accessed too soon.
Some people have already downloaded these files, and cracked versions of the game are circulating.
However, playing early can lead to serious consequences. For example, content creator DVS Squad posted a video of himself playing the leaked version. He forgot to blur his account name and later shared a screenshot showing an in-game message that banned him for over 69 million hours—effectively until the year 9999. Eurogamer confirmed this screenshot’s authenticity through his Discord server.
Microsoft has a long-standing approach to tackling piracy. As far back as 2009, the company banned users for modifying consoles to play pirated games. Recently, they took strong action against players who leaked a Gears of War remake, permanently banning them from Xbox Online services.
In the meantime, Playground Games has provided a detailed look at Forza Horizon 6. They’ve shared insights on the map size, vehicle variety, and the challenges of setting a racing game in Japan. This context makes the upcoming release even more exciting for fans.
