Some users reportedly claim they are already able to run a leaked build of Forza Horizon 6. Nine days before the game’s official May 19 launch, reports claim that unencrypted files were made accessible through Steam, though Microsoft and Playground Games have not confirmed the incident, its cause, or the scope of the leaked build.
What Happened
On May 10, 2026, reports began circulating that unencrypted files for Forza Horizon 6 had been made accessible through Steam. Steam tracking activity reportedly drew attention to the upload, and the situation quickly spread across online communities.
Insider Gaming reported that the leaked upload involved around 155GB of content — reportedly a large build containing thousands of files, though whether it matches the final retail build has not been confirmed.
Reports claim the files were not properly encrypted in the way a preload would normally be protected ahead of launch. Microsoft and Playground Games have not commented on or confirmed the reports at the time of writing.
How a Preload Leak Actually Works
When a game is coming out, developers usually let players download the files a few days early so they are ready to go the moment the launch window opens. Those files are encrypted — locked — so that nothing runs until the developer flips the switch on release day.
In this case, reports claim the Forza Horizon 6 files were accessible without that protection in place. The game reportedly only had Steam’s standard DRM applied, and online users claimed the build could be run shortly after the files became accessible.
Reports describe the incident as a possible Steam publishing or preload error, but Microsoft and Playground Games have not confirmed the cause.
What the Leaked Build Can and Cannot Do
Playing the leaked build is not the same as playing the full game. Online features are unlikely to be available to players of the leaked build until the official early access launch on May 15. Much of what defines the Horizon series relies on online systems — multiplayer races, live seasonal events, and community sharing tools for liveries and tuning setups. With servers and authentication tied to the official rollout, leaked versions typically cannot access these features.
DSO Gaming reports that the leaked build can be played in Offline Mode. That means driving around Japan, exploring the map, running races, and accessing the car roster — but without the seasonal content, online multiplayer, and shared community features that are central to how modern Horizon games are played.
Reported early gameplay footage began circulating online within hours, with users claiming to show the car selection screen, driving through Japan’s roads, and exploring the open world ahead of any planned reveal.
Directive 8020 Also Reportedly Leaked at the Same Time
Forza Horizon 6 was not the only game caught up in this. DSO Gaming also reported that Directive 8020 leaked around the same time and was allegedly playable. Directive 8020 is developed by Supermassive Games and was scheduled to launch on May 12, 2026.
This Already Happened With Death Stranding 2 in March
This is reportedly the second major game of 2026 to suffer a preload mishap of this kind. Death Stranding 2 reportedly had an almost identical Steam leak in March 2026.
In the Death Stranding 2 case, around 113GB of files were reportedly uploaded without encryption before the game’s launch. The comparison raises questions about how Steam preload builds are prepared and checked before release.
Two reported preload incidents in the space of two months raise a real question about whether the current process for managing Steam preloads is reliable enough for high-profile releases.
The DRM Question This Reopens
The situation raises a question about protection layers. TheGamer reports that Forza Horizon 6 does not use Denuvo, while the Steam listing does not show a Denuvo notice either. Without an additional layer of protection beyond Steam’s standard DRM, the reported build was accessible to online users quickly once the files were out.
The counterargument is well established. Denuvo has a reputation for impacting PC performance, and its presence has caused backlash from players in the past. Many publishers have moved away from it under community pressure, only to find that standard Steam DRM offers limited protection once the underlying files are accessible.
The more interesting long-term takeaway may be about server-side gating. Online-dependent games can still hold back key features through server authentication even when local file encryption fails. That approach — limiting functionality through server checks rather than relying solely on local encryption — may become even more common for major releases going forward.
What It Means for Sales
According to estimates from Alinea Analytics reported by PC Gamer, Forza Horizon 6 had reportedly surpassed 500,000 Steam preorders as of mid-April, before the leak occurred. That suggests strong demand from legitimate buyers, but it does not prove whether the reported leak will meaningfully affect final sales.
What is easier to see is the marketing risk. If early footage and assets circulate before launch, planned reveals around the Japan setting, car roster, and online features can lose some of their impact.
The Marketing Damage
Forza Horizon 6 has been heavily promoted around its Japan setting, its car roster, and its scenic open-world routes. A premature playable build threatens planned surprises that would normally land during early access and launch week, when attention is at its highest and first impressions spread fastest.
The Japan setting was one of the most requested locations in Forza Horizon history. Playground Games built significant anticipation around its recreation of Tokyo and the surrounding countryside. Now, days before anyone was supposed to see it, reported footage has already begun circulating online. The carefully managed reveal of specific areas, cars, and events — timed to maximise impact during early access week — has been partially undermined by what reports describe as a Steam upload or preload mistake.
Microsoft and Playground Games Have Not Responded
Microsoft and Playground Games have not publicly commented on the reported situation at the time of writing.
Whether Microsoft will roll out an update to address the situation is an open question. Once files have been distributed, a follow-up update would not necessarily undo files that were already downloaded.
What Comes Next
The official release schedule has not changed. Forza Horizon 6 launches May 19, 2026 for PC and Xbox Series X/S. Premium Edition owners get early access from May 15. A PlayStation 5 version is planned for later in 2026. If you are planning ahead for launch, we have the full list of all 57 achievements and how to unlock 1000 Gamerscore ready for you.
Online features — the seasonal events, multiplayer, community liveries, and tuning setups that are the backbone of the Horizon experience — remain server-gated and will not be available to anyone until Microsoft opens them officially. For most players, that is the game. Driving around Japan alone in offline mode is a fraction of what Forza Horizon 6 is built to be.
The bigger conversation this leak forces is about process. Two AAA games in two months have had their preload builds exposed through the same type of mistake. At some point, the question stops being about individual human error and starts being about whether the current workflow for preparing Steam preloads is structurally safe for releases of this scale.
Neither Microsoft nor Valve has addressed that question yet.
Game Empress will update this article as Microsoft and Playground Games respond.
Sources: Insider Gaming; Notebookcheck; Neowin; MP1st; Twisted Voxel; DSO Gaming (Directive 8020 confirmation); TheGamer via OpenCritic (Denuvo confirmation); PC Gamer via Alinea Analytics (preorder estimate); GameGPU; EGW News; PartOfStyle; Steam tracking community reports (all May 10–11, 2026).
