Xbox was not meant to be a bland brand slapped onto the side of a game-streaming subscription. More and more, Xbox encompasses a full hardware ecosystem: PCs, handhelds, and the long-suffering Xbox Series S/X consoles. The thing lacking in this reinvention of Xbox is games—exclusive games.
Forza Horizon 6, which is set to arrive May 19, stands out as one of those games that draws people to a system—or, in Microsoft’s case, a whole suite of gaming hardware. And Microsoft dropped multiple patches for the Series X, PC, and the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X just in time for the release. PC gamers, in particular, now have access to the so-called Xbox Mode, which provides a UI that’s easier to navigate with a controller, such as your good ol’ Xbox gamepad.
See Forza Horizon 6 at Amazon
Forza Horizon 6 grants you points for doing literally everything, including destroying Japan’s beautiful scenery. © Playground Game; screenshot by Gizmodo
I’ve put rubber to the road for more than a dozen hours in a prerelease version of Forza Horizon 6, splitting my time among all three platforms. The game is a perfectly pitched casual experience that edges far more toward an arcade-style racer than anything with simulationist sensibilities. It’s the kind of game that slides into your life for those few scant hours after work or before bed, excites you for a race or two, and then is stowed away for later.
