Forza Horizon 5 takes players to the jungles and deserts of Mexico.
Forza Horizon 5 is officially on its way and you only have to wait a few more months to play it. For its latest outing, the racing sim is heading to an « authentic » recreation of Mexico and will boast the series’ largest open-world environments to date. Expect to traverse jungles, deserts, urban sprawls and ancient ruins as you tear through the rubber of the world’s fastest – and prettiest – cars. As the game’s November release date draws closer, we’re learning more about it through trailers, interviews and behind-the-scenes featurettes, all giving us insights into new features like audio ray tracing and an incredibly dynamic weather system. From what we’ve seen so far, Forza Horizon 5 looks set to be the best-looking release in the series and an exciting showcase for the power of the Xbox Series X. Not only that, as an Xbox title, it’ll be on Game Pass on day one. Below, we round up everything we know about Forza Horizon 5 so far, including its release date, price, compatibility and new features. [Update: Forza Horizon 5’s full map has been revealed. Read on to find out more.] Forza Horizon 5 is scheduled for release on November 9,2021 for Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and PC, making it the first game in the franchise heading exclusively to next-gen consoles. Premium Edition owners will get early access from November 5,2021. The Standard Edition will cost $59.99 / £54.99 (around AU$75) at launch, with the Deluxe Edition – which includes the Car Pass – slightly pricier at $79.99 / £69.99 (around AU$100). The Premium Edition will cost $99.99 / £84.99 (around AU$130), with the Premium Add-Ons bundle – sold separately as an upgrade package for those aforementioned versions – priced at $49.99 / £39.99 (around AU$65). Forza Horizon 5 will also be available day one on Xbox Game Pass, which costs $9.99 / £7.99 / AU$10.95 per month. Forza Horizon 5 is once again being developed by Playground Games – the studio at the helm of all four previous entries in the series – and swaps the British setting of its predecessor for a fictionalized version of Mexico. Playground says this new locale will mark the largest and most diverse open world ever playable in a Forza Horizon game, with a total of 11 biomes ranging from jungles to deserts. These environments will also boast the dynamic weather mechanics first introduced in Forza Horizon 4, which could see you suddenly swept up in a thunderstorm as you drift across scorching sand dunes. The difference compared to Forza Horizon 4, however, is that each biome will transition through the game’s seasons differently, with each biome boastings its own distinct dynamic weather. As for new features beyond its setting, Forza Horizon 5 is mixing up the tried and tested racing formula. For the first time, the franchise is introducing a “deep and rewarding campaign” under the umbrella term Horizon Story, where players will meet new characters and determine the outcome of their missions. Don’t expect an Uncharted-level narrative, but it’s exciting to see the game’s developer push the boat (or car?) out with its latest entry in the series. Speaking to Eurogamer, Forza Horizon 5’s principal game designer, Mike Brown, spoke of the decision to introduce campaign-like missions into the game: « They offer us an opportunity to showcase a lot of the really exciting things that the game has to offer in a curated, story-driven experience, » he said. « A lot of those things can and will happen in free-roam just naturally, while you’re exploring, but this gives a more curated way to do it. At the end of each Expedition, you open up a new Horizon festival site, and with that opens up a load of new races. » There’s also the addition of Forza LINC, a new AI assistant that will track your status, the people you meet online and help you play together, as well as Horizon Arcade, where players will journey cooperatively across the map to engage in various challenges and mini games. EventLab is new, too, and will allow players to create their very own races, modes and experiences. We don’t yet know the scale of this building tool, but at E3 we caught a glimpse of bowling pin runs, gigantic jumps and huge fans that propel vehicles into the air. As for improvements to social play and PvP racing, Horizon Tour and Horizon Open will make it easier to jump in and out of different modes with other players across the world – to “capture the experience of a car-meet,” says the developer. There’s improvements to Forza Horizon 4’s battle royale mode, too – called Eliminator – where players race against others online, trying to avoid expulsion by keeping ahead of the pack. Customization has also been overhauled for both vehicles and character models, with “thousands” more visual and performance upgrades available to players at launch. Right now, we don’t know the exact lineup of vehicles that will be playable in-game, though we did spot beach buggies, off-road racers and, of course, supercars in the reveal trailer. As we’ve said before, Forza Horizon 5’s Mexico map will be made up of 11 distinct biomes, each offering a different driving experience – as well as localized seasons and weather conditions. Here are the biomes that you can expect: The Living Desert The Living Desert features a giant cactus desert full of towering saguaros, as well rock formations and piles which are unique to the area. In addition, this biome is full of foliage, with wild flowers appearing in certain seasons. Sand Desert The Sand Desert features sand dunes with silky-smooth velvety sand. This biome apparently has many long, straight roads which will be great for testing how fast your car can really go. Rocky Coast The Rocky Coast offers a great view of the ocean and, as such, a fantastic view of sunsets and sunrises. This biome also features the Arch of Cabo San Lucas, a dinct rock formation, as well as a golf course. Farmland The Farmland looks to showcase a lot of crops that are native to Mexico. This biome is made up of lush vegetation, fruit-bearing trees and wide (but shallow) rivers. You’ll even have the option to smash your way through fences if you please.
