There are leaks that look like accidents… and others that are so well-timed that they look like they were dropped down to the millimeter. In recent days, Forza Horizon 6 has been everywhere in discussions, even though the game has not yet been officially presented by Xbox and Playground Games. The reason? A advertising appeared directly in Forza Horizon 5revealing very specific details about the release, content and even pre-order bonuses.
And inevitably, when an ad that looks like a complete pre-order page appears in such a closely watched game, the same question immediately comes up: simple error, or perfectly mastered “comm stunt”?
A release date, early access and more than 550 cars… all via a simple ad
It all starts with a discovery relayed on January 14 by Saudi media XBOX INFINITE : advertising integrated into Forza Horizon 5 would highlight the details of Forza Horizon 6 as if the marketing campaign was already launched.
According to this advertisement, Forza Horizon 6 would be released on May 19, 2026 on Xbox Series And PC. One detail would even allow us to go further: the Premium edition would offer a 4 days early accesswhich would place the opening of the valves at May 15, 2026.
But that’s not all. This same ad also mentions:
- more than 550 cars
- 2 Premium extensions
- a promise of “largest open world ever designed for Forza Horizon”
- and a highlighting of Japan as a playground
Information which, put together, looks less like a vague rumor than a product sheet already ready to be published.
What the Premium Edition would contain (and why it’s so talked about)
The ad in question does not just mention a date: it also goes into detail about editions and bonuses, announcing in particular that a pre-order would allow you to recover a “specially prepared and exclusive” Ferrari J50.
The Premium Edition (or Premium Upgrade) would also mention several contents expected by the most invested fans:
- Early access (4 days, starting May 15)
- VIP Membership
- Welcome Pack
- Car Pass
- Car Pack Time Attack
- Car Pack Italian Passion (post-launch)
- 2 Premium expansions (post-launch)
This type of “all-in-one” bundle is nothing unusual for the series, but what is surprising here is above all the level of precision… while the official presentation is supposed to arrive in a few days.
A “targeted” leak? The intriguing track with different versions of Forza Horizon 5
Where the story gets downright strange is with the theory that has been circulating since: what if it wasn’t all an accident? This hypothesis gained momentum after the revelations of the German YouTuber ZOQQERwho claims to have also seen an advertisement linked to Forza Horizon 6 Premium Edition integrated into Forza Horizon 5.
The most disturbing point, according to this theory, is that ZOQQER would not have had the same version of the game as everyone else. He indicates having received multiple forced updates over a few days, with version numbers different from those observed among other players, including internationally.
Still according to this scenario, these updates would even have temporarily cut off online functionalitypossibly to prevent advertising from being displayed too widely before its time. Despite everything, certain elements would have remained visible on the store side, suggesting that this content does indeed exist. server side.
The idea circulating behind all this: only certain profiles, notably content creators, would have access to these particular versions, which would reinforce the thesis of a voluntary test or a disguised teaser.
A simple mistake? Why the “accident” hypothesis remains credible
On the other hand, other players remain convinced that this is not a premeditated plan, but rather a “classic” technical or human misstep: content published too early, pushed to the wrong place, or visible to some of the players before being removed.
One element also adds to this caution: on Reddit, a player who does not present himself as a content creator claims to have also seen the in-game advertising. This detail makes the hypothesis of “reserved” access more vague, or in any case less watertight than expected.
What is certain, however, is that the appearance of such a comprehensive ad, even briefly, is enough to trigger an avalanche of captures, reposts and debates. And at this point, it doesn’t matter what the cause: the result is the same, Forza Horizon 6 monopolizes attention.