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Short answer: Premium Early Access was worth considering only if you wanted to play before the standard launch and expected to use several of Premium’s add-ons. It did not make the racing game itself better. For Xbox Series X|S and PC, the four-day early-access period has already passed: Premium started on May 15, 2026, while the regular launch was May 19. On PS5, Premium Early Access is scheduled for January 21, 2027, five days before the Standard and Deluxe launch on January 26.
If you only want the base game, Standard is the straightforward choice. Deluxe adds the Welcome Pack and Car Pass. Premium adds those items, VIP Membership, two more car packs, two expansions and Early Access. Game Pass members and people who already own Standard or Deluxe should look at Premium Upgrade rather than automatically buying the full Premium Edition.
Forza Horizon 6 release timing by platform
The answer depends first on where and when you are playing. Playground Games announced Xbox Series X|S and PC availability for May 19, 2026. Premium Edition owners could begin on May 15, a four-day head start. Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass members could play on May 19 through their memberships; Premium Upgrade supplied the early start and Premium content for eligible subscribers or existing owners.
Steam currently displays May 18, 2026 as its release date, while the publisher’s announcement and FAQ state May 19 for PC. The sources do not explain the one-day difference, so treat May 19 as the publisher’s stated PC launch and check the live Steam listing for your account and region.
#1 Best Overall
- DISCOVER JAPAN — Explore Horizon’s largest map ever, set in Japan and packed with dramatic verticality, diverse biomes, and spectacular open‑road driving routes.
- CRUISE ICONIC LOCATIONS — Drive through Tokyo’s city streets, suburbs, docks, and industrial districts in the most expansive urban environment in Horizon history.
- DRIVE 550+ REAL‑WORLD CARS — Collect and customize over 550 licensed vehicles with body kits, Forza Aero, window liveries, and enhanced steering animations.
- BUILD YOUR ESTATE — Purchase beautiful homes across Japan and customize garages to showcase your growing car collection as you rise through the Horizon Festival.
- JOIN THE HORIZON COMMUNITY — Race, cruise, and compete with friends in Time Attack Circuits, Drag Meets, Car Meets, and Horizon multiplayer modes, including Spec Racing Championships.
| Platform | Standard/regular launch | Premium Early Access | Current status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xbox Series X|S | May 19, 2026 | May 15, 2026 | Released; the early-access window has ended |
| PC through the Xbox app | May 19, 2026 | May 15, 2026 | Released; the early-access window has ended |
| PC on Steam | Steam listed May 18, 2026; publisher stated May 19 | Four days before the applicable launch | Released; verify the store listing for your locale |
| PS5 | January 26, 2027 | January 21, 2027 | Future dates as of October 16, 2026 |
For Xbox and PC buyers today, Early Access is no longer a practical benefit because the window has passed. Your decision is about the included digital content, not getting into the game early. For a PS5 purchase made before January 2027, the five-day head start remains a real, upcoming benefit.
What Game Pass includes
Playground Games states that Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass provides the game at no additional game purchase cost from May 19, 2026. Ultimate supports Xbox Series X|S, PC through the Xbox app and Xbox Cloud Gaming; PC Game Pass supports PC through the Xbox app. The subscription access is the base game entitlement, not the Premium bundle. Premium Upgrade is the route to Premium benefits and Early Access for an eligible subscriber.
What each edition contains
The editions differ by bundled content rather than by graphics quality, physics, tracks or other core-game features. All three full editions include the complete game.
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| Edition | Included content | Who it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Full game | Players who want the base experience and do not need the add-ons |
| Deluxe | Full game, Welcome Pack and Car Pass | Players who want extra cars and starter bonuses but not the full Premium bundle |
| Premium | Full game, VIP Membership, Welcome Pack, Car Pass, Time Attack Car Pack, Italian Passion Car Pack, two expansions and Early Access | Players who value the head start and expect to use several included extras |
| Premium Upgrade | Premium content and Early Access for Game Pass members or Standard/Deluxe owners | Players who already have the underlying game entitlement |
Some add-ons and expansions were identified as post-release content in the original edition announcement. Availability can therefore be staggered rather than delivered on the first day.
Rank #2
- PREMIUM EDITION — Includes the full game, VIP Membership, Welcome Pack, Time Attack Car Pack, Car Pass, Italian Passion Car Pack, and two Premium Expansions (coming post launch).
- DISCOVER JAPAN — Explore Horizon’s largest map ever, set in Japan and packed with dramatic verticality, diverse biomes, and spectacular open‑road driving routes.
- CRUISE ICONIC LOCATIONS — Drive through Tokyo’s city streets, suburbs, docks, and industrial districts in the most expansive urban environment in Horizon history.
- DRIVE 550+ REAL‑WORLD CARS — Collect and customize over 550 licensed vehicles with body kits, Forza Aero, window liveries, and enhanced steering animations.
- BUILD YOUR ESTATE — Purchase beautiful homes across Japan and customize garages to showcase your growing car collection as you rise through the Horizon Festival.
Standard Edition
Standard is the complete base game without the Welcome Pack, Car Pass, VIP Membership, additional car packs or expansions. Choose it when your priority is simply playing Horizon 6 and you do not assign a personal value to those extras. It is also the least complicated option if you prefer to decide later whether an expansion is worth buying separately.
Deluxe Edition
Deluxe adds two named items: the Welcome Pack and Car Pass. It does not include Premium’s VIP Membership, Time Attack Car Pack, Italian Passion Car Pack, two expansions or Early Access. Deluxe is the documented middle tier for someone who wants a larger garage and launch bonuses but does not want every Premium component.
Premium Edition
Premium combines the Deluxe content with VIP Membership, two additional car packs, two expansions and Early Access. On Xbox and PC, that early start was four days; on PS5, the announced gap is five days. Premium is not a performance upgrade and does not change the underlying game systems.
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Premium Upgrade
Premium Upgrade does not replace the game. You must either have an eligible Game Pass subscription or own the Standard or Deluxe game entitlement. It is designed for the person who already has the base game and wants the Premium bundle. Buying the full Premium Edition when you already receive the base game through Game Pass can duplicate the game entitlement unnecessarily.
Rank #3
- PREMIUM UPGRADE — Includes VIP Membership, Welcome Pack, Time Attack Car Pack, Car Pass, Italian Passion Car Pack, and two Premium Expansions. Requires Forza Horizon 6 base game or Game Pass Ultimate subscription.
- VIP MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS — Enjoy a 2x Credit boost to race rewards, 3 VIP-Exclusive Forza Edition cars, a weekly bonus Super Wheelspin, and special Vanity Items.
- WELCOME PACK — Features 5 special pre-tuned cars and a Car Voucher, which can be used to claim any car available from the Autoshow.
- TIME ATTACK CAR PACK — Receive 8 legendary cars ideal for mastering every turn and corner at the Time Attack Circuits located around Japan.
- ITALIAN PASSION CAR PACK — Introduces 4 great new Italian cars in Forza Horizon 6 post-launch, perfect for cruising, racing, or exploring.
What the included add-ons actually provide
Welcome Pack
Playground Games describes the Welcome Pack as five special pre-tuned cars, one car voucher and three clothing tickets. These are useful immediately if you want ready-made cars or early cosmetic and vehicle choices, but their value depends on whether you would otherwise select those cars, spend credits on a comparable vehicle or use the clothing items.
VIP Membership
VIP includes a 2x credit boost to race rewards, three VIP-exclusive Forza Edition cars, a weekly bonus Super Wheelspin and additional vanity and house benefits. The credit boost can matter to players who plan to race frequently and build a large collection. It matters less if you play casually, avoid completion goals or do not care about accelerating in-game purchases. The Super Wheelspin is a recurring weekly benefit, so its usefulness depends on how regularly you return.
Car Pass
The Car Pass adds 30 cars, with one made available weekly starting May 19, 2026. That quantity is published content, not a guarantee that every car will suit your preferred class or racing style. It is most relevant to collectors and players who want a steady stream of additional vehicles without selecting each one individually.
Time Attack Car Pack and Italian Passion Car Pack
Premium includes both packs. The Time Attack Car Pack contains eight cars. The edition announcement also lists the Italian Passion Car Pack as part of Premium, although the cited material does not provide a separate car count for it. Do not infer a value for that pack from the eight-car figure; the published count applies to Time Attack.
Rank #4
- DELUXE EDITION — Includes the full game, Welcome Pack, and Car Pass, delivering 30 additional cars to your garage with one new car released each week.
- DISCOVER JAPAN — Explore Horizon’s largest map ever, set in Japan and packed with dramatic verticality, diverse biomes, and spectacular open‑road driving routes.
- CRUISE ICONIC LOCATIONS — Drive through Tokyo’s city streets, suburbs, docks, and industrial districts in the most expansive urban environment in Horizon history.
- DRIVE 550+ REAL‑WORLD CARS — Collect and customize over 550 licensed vehicles with body kits, Forza Aero, window liveries, and enhanced steering animations.
- BUILD YOUR ESTATE — Purchase beautiful homes across Japan and customize garages to showcase your growing car collection as you rise through the Horizon Festival.
Two expansions
Premium includes two expansions. The available edition information does not establish their individual launch dates, sizes or standalone prices, so those details should not be treated as known when comparing editions. Their inclusion is nevertheless a major reason to choose Premium if you expect to play substantial post-launch content.
Prices and how to compare the upgrade path
At the time of the cited store snapshot, Steam listed these USD prices:
| Steam edition | Listed price | What the figure means |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | $69.99 | USD storefront price observed in the listing; may change and may vary by region |
| Deluxe | $99.99 | USD storefront price observed in the listing; may change and may vary by region |
| Premium | $119.99 | USD storefront price observed in the listing; may change and may vary by region |
These are not universal or permanent prices. Check the current store for your platform and currency before purchasing. The $20 gap between Deluxe and Premium in that Steam snapshot should not be presented as a fixed global price difference, because regional pricing, sales and storefront updates can change it.
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- Confirm that your subscription includes the platform you intend to use. Ultimate covers Xbox Series X|S, the Xbox app on PC and cloud play; PC Game Pass covers the Xbox app on PC.
- Use the subscription for the base game rather than buying another full-game license solely to obtain Premium content.
- Compare the current Premium Upgrade price with the full Premium Edition price. The upgrade is the relevant product when your base-game access is already covered.
- Check what happens if your subscription ends. Premium Upgrade supplies add-on rights, but your ability to launch the underlying game still depends on owning it or retaining an eligible subscription.
If you own Standard or Deluxe
Compare the current Premium Upgrade price with the cost of buying Premium outright. Because Standard and Deluxe already provide the underlying game, an upgrade normally avoids paying for a second base-game entitlement. Verify the store’s eligibility rules on the account that owns the game before checkout.
Best Value
- FORZA HORIZON 6 LIMITED EDITION — Explore breathtaking Japan with the XBOX Wireless Controller – Forza Horizon 6 Limited Edition. Inspired by the winding Touge roads of Japan, this controller blends high-performance style with festival flair.
- FESTIVAL-INSPIRED DESIGN — Watch the translucent top case and triggers unveil dynamic lighting effects of a vibrant pink and green XBOX button. Bold pink thumbsticks, multi-color ABXY buttons, and a Horizon logo stamped on the battery door seal the look.
- RACING-READY GRIP — Lock into the open-world driving action with black and pink diamond-patterned grips and textured triggers built for every moment on the road.
- UP TO 40 HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE — Get up to 40 hours of battery life so you can explore Japan from neon-lit streets to mountain passes without stopping to recharge.*
- PLAY ACROSS EVERY SCREEN — Quickly pair with, play on, and switch between console and PC. Stream games across mobile, gaming handhelds, Smart TVs, and supported VR headsets with XBOX Cloud Gaming.**
Is Early Access worth paying for?
Early Access is a time-value purchase. It gives the same game earlier; it does not provide a better version. Ask how much the first four or five days matter to you and whether you would use the other Premium items.
Premium is a reasonable choice when
- You want to start on the earliest announced date, particularly for the PS5 launch on January 21, 2027.
- You expect to use several of the two expansions, 30-car Car Pass, VIP benefits and additional car packs.
- You are a collector who values a larger planned vehicle library more than the lowest entry price.
- You are buying before launch and want to play during the early-access window rather than wait for the standard date.
Standard or Deluxe is more sensible when
- You are buying Xbox or PC after May 19, 2026, because Early Access has already ended there.
- You mainly want the base game and do not expect to use expansions or recurring VIP benefits.
- You prefer to evaluate the game before committing to post-release content.
- You want the Welcome Pack and Car Pass but do not need VIP, the two extra car packs or the expansions; that is the documented role of Deluxe.
There is no official evidence establishing a single monetary value for every car, bonus or expansion. A Premium purchase is therefore a personal value judgment based on usage, timing and the current price in your region, not a guaranteed saving.
PS5 release details and the physical edition
The later official announcement gives PS5 Standard and Deluxe a January 26, 2027 release date and Premium Early Access a January 21, 2027 start. The first Premium Expansion is also scheduled for January 21, 2027. These dates are future dates as of October 16, 2026 and could be revised by the publisher.
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Quick Recap
A practical buying checklist
- Identify your platform and date. Xbox and PC early access has passed; PS5 early access is scheduled for January 21, 2027.
- Decide whether you need the game license. Game Pass may cover the base game, while Standard and Deluxe owners already have it.
- Count the extras you will actually use. Separate the five Welcome Pack cars, 30 Car Pass cars, VIP benefits, eight Time Attack cars, Italian Passion cars and two expansions.
- Compare the correct products. Existing owners and Game Pass members should price Premium Upgrade against Premium, not against Standard alone.
- Check the live regional store price. The listed Steam prices are historical USD snapshots and can change.
- Confirm entitlement requirements. Premium Upgrade does not replace the underlying game or an eligible subscription.
Bottom line for each type of player
- Base-game player: Choose Standard.
- Extra cars and starter bonuses: Choose Deluxe for the Welcome Pack and Car Pass.
- Collector, expansion player or launch-day enthusiast: Consider Premium, provided the current price matches how much you expect to use.
- Game Pass member: Keep the subscription for the base game and compare Premium Upgrade for the add-ons and Early Access.
- Standard or Deluxe owner: Compare Premium Upgrade first; buying the full Premium Edition may duplicate the game entitlement.
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.
