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Short answer: Forza Horizon 6 Expansion 1 launches on January 21, 2027, and is included with the Premium Edition, Premium Upgrade and Expansions Bundle. It is also sold separately. The base game launched on Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC on May 19, 2026; the PlayStation 5 Standard and Deluxe Editions arrive January 26, 2027, while PS5 Premium buyers receive early access on January 21. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass include the base game, but not the expansion content unless you add Premium Upgrade or buy the expansion separately.
Forza Horizon 6 expansion dates at a glance
There are two announced post-launch expansions. Playground Games says each will add a new location, vehicles and new gameplay. Only the first expansion has a release date so far.
| Event | Date | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC launch | May 19, 2026 | The base game becomes available on Xbox consoles and PC. |
| Expansion 1 release | January 21, 2027 | The first expansion launches on Xbox, PC and PlayStation 5. |
| PS5 Premium early access | January 21, 2027 | PS5 Premium customers can start the base game during the early-access period. |
| PS5 Standard and Deluxe release | January 26, 2027 | The regular PS5 editions launch five days after Premium early access. |
| Expansion 2 | Not announced | No release date or location has been named in the official material currently available. |
The January 21 expansion date applies to the add-on itself, not to the original Xbox and PC launch. If you already play on Xbox or PC, you can access Expansion 1 on that date when your account owns the relevant edition, upgrade or separate purchase. On PS5, the same date is both the Premium early-access date and the expansion launch date.
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The edition you choose determines whether Expansion 1 is included and whether you receive the additional packs and memberships. The following comparison reflects the contents listed by Playground Games and Xbox.
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| Edition or purchase | Base game | Expansion 1 | Expansion 2 | Other listed content | Important requirement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Edition | Yes | No | No | None of the Premium-only bonuses | Buy the expansion separately or add an upgrade later. |
| Deluxe Edition | Yes | No | No | Welcome Pack and Car Pass | Expansions are separate purchases unless you upgrade. |
| Premium Edition | Yes | Yes | Yes | VIP Membership, Welcome Pack, Car Pass, Time Attack Car Pack and Italian Passion Car Pack | Premium is the complete announced content package. |
| Premium Upgrade | No, by itself | Yes | Yes | Premium content listed above | You must own the base game or have a qualifying Game Pass subscription. |
| Expansions Bundle | No, by itself | Yes | Yes | The two announced expansions | You still need the base game or an eligible subscription. |
| Separate Expansion 1 purchase | No, by itself | Yes | Not included | Expansion 1 content only | Requires the base game or qualifying access to it. |
Standard Edition
Standard is the straightforward base-game purchase. It does not include either announced expansion, the Welcome Pack, VIP Membership or the Car Pass. If you later decide you want the expansions, you can add the appropriate upgrade or buy the add-ons separately rather than purchasing the game again.
Deluxe Edition
Deluxe adds the Welcome Pack and Car Pass to the full game. The Car Pass is listed as delivering 30 cars, one vehicle per week. Deluxe does not include Expansion 1 or Expansion 2, so an expansion purchase or Premium Upgrade is still required for that content.
Premium Edition
Premium combines the full game with VIP Membership, Welcome Pack, Car Pass, Time Attack Car Pack, Italian Passion Car Pack and both announced expansions. It is the edition to select if you want Expansion 1 on its launch date without making a second expansion transaction.
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Premium Upgrade
Premium Upgrade is an add-on for someone who already owns the base game or receives it through an eligible Game Pass subscription. It adds the Premium content, including both expansions, but it is not a playable copy of Forza Horizon 6 on its own. Buying the upgrade without base-game access leaves you without the game needed to use it.
Expansions Bundle
The Expansions Bundle is the expansion-focused option. It includes Expansion 1 and Expansion 2, but it does not replace the base game. Choose it when you already own, or plan to maintain access to, the base game and do not need the other Premium bonuses.
What Game Pass subscribers actually receive
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass include the Forza Horizon 6 base game at no additional game purchase. That subscription access is enough to play the main game, but it does not automatically unlock the expansion package.
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- Game Pass base access: Ultimate and PC Game Pass include the base game.
- Expansion access: Add Premium Upgrade, buy the Expansions Bundle or purchase an individual expansion.
- Upgrade prerequisite: Premium Upgrade requires either ownership of the game or a qualifying subscription that provides it.
- Subscription dependency: If your Game Pass access ends and you do not own the base game, the upgrade and expansions cannot substitute for the missing game license.
This distinction matters when comparing the checkout totals. A subscriber who wants all Premium content generally needs the subscription for the base game plus Premium Upgrade; a subscriber who wants only Expansion 1 can instead evaluate the individual expansion price when it is listed. The official announcements do not establish a universal price, so check the store listing for your region and platform.
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Xbox Series X|S
Xbox Series X|S is an official platform from the May 19, 2026 launch. Xbox purchases participate in Xbox Play Anywhere where the listing is marked for that program, allowing one purchase to cover the Xbox console and Windows PC versions. Confirm the Play Anywhere designation on the specific store listing before assuming a purchase covers both storefronts.
Windows PC
Windows 10/11 is supported through the Xbox PC ecosystem, and the game is also available through Steam. Storefront ownership is still important: a save that can travel between services does not automatically mean every paid license or add-on is shared between them.
PlayStation 5
The PS5 release is divided by edition date. Premium launches with early access on January 21, 2027, while Standard and Deluxe launch January 26. Playground Games also says a PS5 disc edition will be available through supporting retailers. That announcement confirms the format, but not a universal price, retailer inventory or every regional release detail.
Cross-platform play, saves and user-generated content
The PS5 version supports cross-platform play and cross-save with the Xbox and Steam versions. It also supports cross-platform user-generated content. In practical terms, an eligible player can play with people on the other named platforms and carry supported progression between them, subject to signing into the account required by the game.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsCross-save and cross-play are not the same as universal DLC portability. The official PS5 announcement confirms the multiplayer and save features, but it does not promise that a Premium license, an individual expansion or every add-on purchased in one storefront will transfer to every other storefront. If you are moving from Xbox or Steam to PS5, verify the platform store’s ownership rules before paying for the same content twice.
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What is known about Expansion 1 and Expansion 2?
Expansion 1
Expansion 1 releases January 21, 2027 on all announced platforms. The official description promises a new location, exciting new vehicles and new gameplay. It does not, in the material currently available, name the location, list the complete vehicle roster or describe the exact activities and map size. Avoid treating unofficial speculation as a confirmed feature list.
Access depends on your purchase: Premium Edition, Premium Upgrade, Expansions Bundle or a separate Expansion 1 purchase. Standard and Deluxe owners do not receive it automatically.
Expansion 2
Expansion 2 is part of the Premium Edition, Premium Upgrade and Expansions Bundle. Playground Games has not announced a release date or named a location for it. The only confirmed scope is the same broad promise of a new location, vehicles and gameplay for each expansion. There is therefore no reliable date to use when planning a vacation, launch stream or upgrade around Expansion 2.
How the 30-car Car Pass fits into the decision
The Car Pass is separate from the expansion maps. It delivers 30 cars, one vehicle per week, according to the listed edition information. Deluxe includes the Car Pass, and Premium includes it as well. Standard does not. Buying an expansion alone does not, on the stated contents, add the Car Pass or the other Premium packs.
This separation is useful when choosing an edition. If your priority is new locations and gameplay, the Expansions Bundle may be sufficient. If you also want the weekly car deliveries, VIP Membership and the two named car packs, Premium or Premium Upgrade is the broader package.
Physical PS5 copy: what to verify before ordering
A PS5 disc version is planned through supporting retailers. Availability can vary by country and by retailer, and the official announcement does not establish a single worldwide price or stock level.
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- Check the edition name: Confirm whether the box is Standard, Deluxe or Premium. A PS5 disc is not automatically the Premium package.
- Check the release date: Premium is scheduled for January 21, 2027; Standard and Deluxe are scheduled for January 26, 2027.
- Check region compatibility: Verify that the disc and any included code match your PlayStation account region.
- Check included codes: If bonuses or an expansion are supplied as a redemption code, confirm whether the code is unused and whether it is valid in your country.
- Check retailer stock: “Available” can mean a preorder, a digital code or a physical disc. Read the format and dispatch wording carefully.
Do not infer Premium content from a product photograph alone. The edition label and the detailed contents list are the decisive checks.
Buying decision guide for common situations
You want every announced add-on
Choose Premium Edition if you still need the base game. If you already own it, Premium Upgrade supplies the Premium content without buying another base-game copy. Either route includes both announced expansions, the Car Pass, VIP Membership, Welcome Pack, Time Attack Car Pack and Italian Passion Car Pack.
You already have Standard or Deluxe and want only Expansion 1
Buy Expansion 1 separately if that is the only extra you need. This avoids paying for Expansion 2 and the other Premium bonuses, although the final value depends on the regional price displayed by your store.
You use Game Pass and want the complete package
Keep the qualifying Game Pass subscription for the base game and add Premium Upgrade. If you cancel the subscription, you will need to own the base game to continue using the upgrade and expansions.
You want to play on both Xbox and PC
Check whether your Xbox listing carries Xbox Play Anywhere. When it does, one purchase supports the Xbox console and Windows PC versions. Also confirm which PC storefront you are using; Steam and the Xbox PC app are separate purchasing environments even when the game supports cross-platform features.
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Cross-save and cross-platform play are supported between PS5, Xbox and Steam. Before buying another copy, check the PS5 store’s entitlement terms for your existing Premium or expansion purchases. The announced cross-save feature alone is not a guarantee that paid DLC licenses migrate.
You want the earliest PS5 start
Only the PS5 Premium schedule provides the January 21, 2027 early-access date. Standard and Deluxe begin January 26. Expansion 1 also launches January 21, so a PS5 player who wants the expansion on day one should choose Premium, Premium Upgrade where applicable, or a separate qualifying expansion purchase alongside base-game access.
Pre-purchase checklist
- Identify your platform: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC app, Steam or PS5.
- Decide whether you need the base game, the expansions, or the complete Premium content set.
- For Xbox and PC, look for the Xbox Play Anywhere designation if you expect one purchase to cover both devices.
- If you use Game Pass, remember that the subscription covers the base game, not the expansion package.
- For January 21, 2027 access to Expansion 1, verify that the listing is Premium Edition, Premium Upgrade, Expansions Bundle or the standalone expansion.
- On PS5, distinguish the January 21 Premium early-access date from the January 26 Standard and Deluxe launch.
- For a disc, verify region, retailer stock, edition and whether bonuses are printed on the disc or supplied by a code.
- If changing storefronts, confirm DLC entitlement rules instead of assuming cross-save carries every purchase.
- Remember that Expansion 2 has no announced date or named location; do not buy based on an unconfirmed schedule.
Confirmed facts versus details still unannounced
| Question | Current answer |
|---|---|
| When did the base game launch? | May 19, 2026 on Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC. |
| When does Expansion 1 launch? | January 21, 2027 on the announced platforms. |
| What does each expansion add? | A new location, vehicles and gameplay are promised for each; detailed feature lists are not yet provided. |
| When does Expansion 2 launch? | No date has been announced. |
| Is there a PS5 disc? | Yes, a disc edition is planned through supporting retailers; price and stock vary. |
| Does Game Pass include the expansions? | No. It includes the base game; expansion access needs Premium Upgrade, the Expansions Bundle or a separate expansion purchase. |
| Does cross-save guarantee DLC transfer? | No such universal DLC portability promise has been stated. |
Bottom line for buyers
Forza Horizon 6’s first expansion arrives January 21, 2027. Premium Edition is the all-in package; Premium Upgrade is the equivalent add-on for existing owners or qualifying Game Pass members; and the Expansions Bundle is the expansion-only route. Standard and Deluxe provide the base game, with Deluxe adding the Welcome Pack and 30-car Car Pass but not the expansions. Xbox, PC and PS5 players can use the announced cross-platform play and cross-save features, while storefront-specific DLC rules still need to be checked before changing platforms.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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