Forza Horizon 6 is one of the biggest racing titles of 2026, and with a file size pushing past 130 GB on every platform, you do not want to be staring at a progress bar on launch day. Preloading now means you only need a small Day One patch when the game unlocks, not a full install during peak server congestion. Here is everything you need to know about how to preload Forza Horizon 6 on PC and Xbox, including download sizes, Early Access dates, and regional unlock times.
Forza Horizon 6 Preload Date and Time
Preloads for Forza Horizon 6 are already live across all supported platforms ahead of the May 19, 2026 launch on Xbox Series X/S and PC. Here is when each storefront opened the preload:
| Platform | Preload Available Since |
|---|---|
| Xbox Series X/S | May 4, 2026 |
| PC (Xbox App) | May 4, 2026 |
| PC (Steam) | May 12, 2026 |
| PS5 | Not available yet |
If you have been waiting on Steam, the preload is now live as of May 12. Playground Games set this up roughly two weeks before the full launch to give players enough time to queue the download at their own pace.
Forza Horizon 6 Download Size and Required Free Space
The file size for Forza Horizon 6 is large across every platform. Before you start the preload, confirm you have enough free space on your drive. The table below separates the actual download size from the minimum free space Playground Games recommends, since the gap accounts for the Day One update and future patches.
| Platform | Actual Download | Minimum Free Space |
|---|---|---|
| Xbox Series X | 134.86 GB | 135 GB |
| Xbox Series S | 134.86 GB | 130 GB |
| PC (Xbox App / Steam) | 146.4 GB | 160 GB |
| PS5 | TBA | TBA |
The 160 GB free space requirement on PC is the number to plan around. The difference between the current download size and that threshold covers the Day One update and gives the install room to work without fragmenting your drive. An SSD is not optional on PC. Forza Horizon 6 requires fast storage to stream the open-world assets correctly and will not run from a traditional hard drive. For the two highest PC spec tiers, an NVMe SSD is specifically required.
How to Preload Forza Horizon 6 on PC
PC players have two storefront options: the Xbox App and Steam. The choice matters depending on how you want to play.
Buying through the Microsoft Store or Xbox App makes Forza Horizon 6 an Xbox Play Anywhere title. One purchase covers both Xbox Series X/S and PC at no extra cost. A Steam purchase covers PC only and does not include an Xbox console license. Cross-save is confirmed across Steam, Xbox, and the Microsoft Store regardless of where you buy, so your progress carries over either way.
Via the Xbox App
The Xbox App is the right route if you are playing through Game Pass or purchased the Microsoft Store version.
- Open the Xbox App on Windows.
- Navigate to the Forza Horizon 6 store page.
- Click the Pre-Install button.
- Select your target drive and choose an SSD.
- Let the download complete in the background.
Via Steam
On Steam, the preload runs directly from your library.
- Open your Steam Library and locate Forza Horizon 6.
- Click the Install button.
- Select your target drive and confirm it is an SSD.
- Confirm and let the download run.
Steam displays the release as May 18 for full launch and May 14 for Advanced Access. These are Pacific Time representations of the same global release windows that Xbox and official Forza sources label as May 19 and May 15. There is no difference in content or access between platforms at the same edition tier.
How to Preload Forza Horizon 6 on Xbox Series X/S
Before queuing the preload on console, go to Settings > General > Power options and enable background downloads. This lets the install continue while the console is idle, so you are not tied to the screen.
- Open the Xbox Store on your console.
- Search for Forza Horizon 6.
- Select your edition or the Game Pass version if you are a subscriber.
- Press Manage, then select Install All.
- Confirm and let the download run in the background.
If you own the physical disc but want to preload digitally, open the Xbox App on your smartphone, find the game in the store, and select the Download to Console option to queue the install remotely.
How to Preload Forza Horizon 6 on PS5
Forza Horizon 6 is not launching on PlayStation 5 on May 19. Playground Games has confirmed a PS5 port for later in 2026, but no specific release date has been announced. There is no PS5 preload available at the moment. If you are on PlayStation, the only option right now is to wishlist the game. This section will be updated once an official PS5 release date is confirmed.
Forza Horizon 6 Early Access and Full Launch Unlock Times
Forza Horizon 6 features two separate play windows based on which edition you own. Premium Edition owners and Premium Upgrade buyers get a four-day head start before the full launch crowd arrives.
- May 15, 2026 (May 14 on Steam): Early Access opens for Premium Edition owners and Premium Upgrade buyers
- May 19, 2026 (May 18 on Steam): Full launch for Standard Edition owners, Game Pass Ultimate, and PC Game Pass subscribers
Based on SteamDB data, Forza Horizon 6 is expected to use a global simultaneous release rather than a staggered regional midnight rollout. Both windows are projected to unlock at 04:00 UTC on their respective dates.
Premium Edition Early Access Unlock Times (04:00 UTC, May 15)
| Region | Local Time | Local Date |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle (PDT, UTC-7) | 9:00 PM | May 14 |
| Chicago (CDT, UTC-5) | 11:00 PM | May 14 |
| São Paulo (BRT, UTC-3) | 1:00 AM | May 15 |
| London (BST, UTC+1) | 5:00 AM | May 15 |
| Riyadh (AST, UTC+3) | 7:00 AM | May 15 |
| Mumbai (IST, UTC+5:30) | 9:30 AM | May 15 |
| Singapore (SGT, UTC+8) | 12:00 PM | May 15 |
| Seoul (KST, UTC+9) | 1:00 PM | May 15 |
| Auckland (NZST, UTC+12) | 4:00 PM | May 15 |
Standard Edition and Game Pass Unlock Times (04:00 UTC, May 19)
| Region | Local Time | Local Date |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle (PDT, UTC-7) | 9:00 PM | May 18 |
| Chicago (CDT, UTC-5) | 11:00 PM | May 18 |
| São Paulo (BRT, UTC-3) | 1:00 AM | May 19 |
| London (BST, UTC+1) | 5:00 AM | May 19 |
| Riyadh (AST, UTC+3) | 7:00 AM | May 19 |
| Mumbai (IST, UTC+5:30) | 9:30 AM | May 19 |
| Singapore (SGT, UTC+8) | 12:00 PM | May 19 |
| Seoul (KST, UTC+9) | 1:00 PM | May 19 |
| Auckland (NZST, UTC+12) | 4:00 PM | May 19 |
These times are based on projected SteamDB data. Playground Games has not officially confirmed them, so check the Xbox or Steam store page for confirmation closer to launch.
Game Pass and the Premium Upgrade
Game Pass covers the base game at the standard May 19 launch, but Early Access is tied to a Premium purchase and not a subscription benefit. Here is the full edition breakdown:
| Edition / Access Type | Contents | Launch Window |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Edition / Game Pass Ultimate / PC Game Pass | Full game | May 19 |
| Deluxe Edition | Full game + Car Pass | May 19 |
| Premium Edition | Full game, Car Pass (30 cars), VIP Membership, Welcome Pack, Time Attack Car Pack, Italian Passion Car Pack, 2 expansions | May 15 |
| Premium Upgrade | All Premium Edition content as an add-on for Game Pass subscribers | May 15 |
The Premium Upgrade is the practical choice for active Game Pass subscribers who want Early Access without paying the full Premium Edition price. It delivers the same May 15 start date and the same content package. All pre-orders across every edition include an exclusive pre-tuned Ferrari J50 delivered at launch, and this applies to the Premium Upgrade as well when purchased before launch.
Check PC Requirements Before You Start the Preload
Before committing 160 GB of SSD space, confirm your hardware can actually run the game. Forza Horizon 6 has four official PC spec tiers ranging from 1080p on Low settings to 4K with full ray tracing.
- The Minimum tier targets 1080p at 60fps on the Low preset. A GTX 1650 meets the requirements, but treat this as the floor, not a comfortable target.
- The Recommended tier targets 1440p at 60fps on High settings and is the practical goal for most PC players.
- Ray tracing covers both reflections and global illumination in open-world gameplay, which is why the Extreme RT tier has steep requirements.
- Playground Games has confirmed the game runs on Steam Deck and Xbox ROG Ally, though lower settings and upscaling will be necessary on both devices.
- Update your GPU drivers before the unlock window. Nvidia and AMD typically release Game Ready driver packages ahead of major launches.
Check out our full Forza Horizon 6 PC system requirements guide to see which tier your rig falls into before you start the preload. Play Now!
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