Early access chaos: 170,000+ racers hit Steam
Forza Horizon 6 barely peeled its helmet off and already it’s packing the stadium. Steam data shows 172,093 concurrent players tuned in on May 15 — the day early access opened for special edition buyers. That’s a huge opening lap, especially since the general player base doesn’t get in until May 19.
To put that into perspective: this early access peak is more than double Forza Horizon 5’s Steam high of about 81,000. Add that it’s heading to Xbox Game Pass this week, and you’ve got a perfect storm of hype, convenience, and eager drivers grinding the tarmac.
Why this spike matters (and what it means for players)
For PlayGround Games, these numbers are a bright neon billboard — early success, publicity, and a sign that the series’ momentum hasn’t stalled. For players, big concurrent populations usually means fuller lobbies, livelier multiplayer events, and more creators streaming the game.
Critically, Forza Horizon 6 is also sitting near the top of Metacritic for the year so far, according to aggregate scores — not bad for a game still technically in early access. Community buzz and early praise can snowball into long-term engagement, more content, and active events.
Bottom line: the early access turnout shows players are excited for a Japan-set Horizon festival, and whatever comes on full launch day, PlayGround Games is entering it with serious momentum. Buckle up — this is just the warm-up lap.
