Playground Games has a massive hit on its hands. Forza Horizon 6 is currently smashing franchise records on Steam. The game does not officially launch until tomorrow, May 19. However, Premium Edition buyers have enjoyed early access since May 15. These dedicated fans have already generated an incredible player count.
Consequently, the game has more than doubled the previous peak set by Forza Horizon 5. Gamers have clearly waited a long time to explore this new map. The franchise finally heads to Japan, a location fans have heavily requested for years. Developer Playground Games delivers over 550 real-world cars at launch, allowing players to drift through a stunningly crafted open world.
Breaking Down the Massive Steam Numbers
The hype surrounding this release translates directly into raw numbers. Currently, Forza Horizon 6 holds the #1 spot for Top Sellers on Steam. Furthermore, the game ranks #2 in Top Wishlists.
According to recent SteamDB snapshots, the game achieved a massive concurrent player peak. Forza Horizon 5 previously held the franchise record with 81,096 concurrent Steam players. Forza Horizon 6 has completely destroyed that milestone.
Current SteamDB Statistics: Forza Horizon 6
| Metric | Player / Viewer Count |
| All-Time Steam Peak | 181,775 |
| 24-Hour Steam Peak | 181,775 |
| Current In-Game Players | 82,925 |
| All-Time Twitch Peak | 131,242 |
| Current Twitch Viewers | 14,189 |
These numbers will undoubtedly surge again tomorrow. On May 19 at 04:00 AM UTC / 09:00 AM PKT, the $119.99 Early Access paywall drops. The base game unlocks globally, bringing a massive second wave of players.
Critical Acclaim & Early Player Feedback
Critics absolutely love the new racing experience. The game currently holds a Top Critic Average of 91 on OpenCritic. Therefore, it stands as one of the highest-rated games of 2026. It joins elite company alongside hits like Lost and Found Co. and Pokémon Pokopia. If you want a deep dive into the driving mechanics and the new Japanese map, check out our comprehensive Forza Horizon 6 review.
Meanwhile, regular players also echo this positive sentiment. The game currently maintains a “Mostly Positive” rating on SteamDB.
Steam User Forza Horizon 6 Review Breakdown
| Review Type | Count |
| Positive Reviews | 16,553 (77.5%) |
| Negative Reviews | 4,804 (22.5%) |
| Total Reviews | 21,357 |
Overall, Xbox Game Studios has delivered a monumental release. Forza Horizon 6 proves the franchise still commands an enormous, highly active audience. As the official global launch arrives tomorrow, the racing community will undoubtedly push these record-breaking numbers even higher.
