The leaked Steam preload version of Forza Horizon 6 is already circulating online.
Xbox's most anticipated racing title of the year has leaked ahead of schedule.
Playground Games
Forza Horizon 6 is one of the year's most exciting Xbox releases. After a long wait, fans of the series will finally experience the long-desired Japan setting, which features the bustling city of Tokyo, picturesque mountain roads, and a garage that is expected to house over 550 vehicles.
The excitement was already building, but just days before the official release window, reports have emerged of a leak, with a complete build claimed to be circulating on dubious platforms.
Forza Horizon 6 files were leaked nearly 10 days before the launch. Developers mistakenly released the entire game files through a Steam update and apparently neglected to encrypt the preload. It was spotted on SteamDB shortly after the update went live. pic.twitter.com/CyPtYAMpQ3— TheGameVerse (@TheGameVerse) May 10, 2026
How did Forza Horizon 6 leak ahead of its release?
Reports indicate that a PC version of Forza Horizon 6 has surfaced online via Steam preload files that were uploaded without encryption. The leaked file size is reported to be approximately 155GB when uncompressed and about 140GB compressed. Microsoft and Playground Games have yet to officially acknowledge the leak or respond to the situation.
Forza Horizon 6 is set to launch on May 19, 2026, for Xbox Series X/S and PC, with early access for Premium Edition players beginning on May 15. The official Forza website has also confirmed that the game will be available on the PS5 later this year. Discussions regarding the leaked files are already active on Reddit, X, and gaming forums, where users claim that the game is playable as it does not include any Anti-Tamper DRM like Denuvo.
Players who claim to have accessed the leaked version report that online mode is unavailable, which is typical for an unreleased build. They also mention frequent crashes across various hardware setups, likely due to the leaked version lacking final optimization or day-one patches.
How serious could this be for Playground Games?
This leak could impact the game in various ways beyond mere piracy issues. It risks revealing surprises, diminishes the appeal of paid early access, disrupts the marketing efforts, and forces the studio into damage control prior to release.
Reports suggest Forza Horizon 6 has already reached over 500,000 pre-orders on Steam, making the timing particularly unfortunate. If the unoptimized leaked version continues to circulate online, some buyers might choose to cancel their pre-orders or hold off for the finalized version.
Other articles
OpenAI introduces a $4 billion deployment firm in partnership with TPG, Advent, Bain, and Brookfield.
OpenAI has established OpenAI Deployment Company with an initial investment exceeding $4 billion from a syndicate of 19 firms, spearheaded by TPG.
Santa Clara County is suing Meta regarding fraudulent advertisements on Facebook and Instagram.
Santa Clara County has filed a lawsuit against Meta regarding fraudulent advertisements on Facebook and Instagram, claiming annual revenue of up to $7 billion.
OpenAI introduces a $4 billion Deployment Company in collaboration with TPG, Advent, Bain, and Brookfield.
OpenAI has established OpenAI Deployment Company, backed by over $4 billion in initial funding from a syndicate of 19 firms led by TPG.
Novo Nordisk transfers Parkinson's cell therapy to Cellular Intelligence, which is backed by Zuckerberg.
Novo Nordisk has transferred its Parkinson's cell therapy, STEM-PD, which was previously on hold, to the AI biotech company Cellular Intelligence in exchange for equity and milestone payments.
A $13,500 Unitree robot was 'blessed' at the Jogyesa Temple in Seoul.
A Unitree robot was 'blessed' at the Jogyesa Temple in Seoul. Amid the event, the Jogye Order established five AI ethics guidelines that are worth considering.
Novo Nordisk transfers Parkinson's cell therapy to Cellular Intelligence, which is supported by Zuckerberg.
Novo Nordisk has transferred STEM-PD, an unused Parkinson's cell therapy, to the AI biotech Cellular Intelligence in exchange for equity and certain milestones.
The leaked Steam preload version of Forza Horizon 6 is already circulating online.
Forza Horizon 6 has allegedly been leaked via Steam preload files, with a 155GB build appearing online just a few days prior to its release.