With just days left before launch, Forza Horizon 6 may already be in trouble. As things stand, some players could have already started playing the game before it officially hits stores, and without paying a single penny.

Several reports claim that the game's full PC build has leaked online and is spreading rapidly across gaming forums. Many fingers are now pointing toward what appears to be a preload encryption mistake on Steam.

According to multiple credible reports, Playground Games and Xbox Game Studios may have accidentally uploaded unencrypted preload files for Forza Horizon 6 through Steam. Normally, preload data is locked until launch day.

Players reportedly did not take long to download and play the game for free. Many piracy-focused communities even uploaded the full build to their subreddits. The leaked build is said to be around 155GB in size.

The situation escalated quickly after screenshots, clips, and gameplay footage allegedly began circulating online, all thanks to the leaked version. Several reports also claimed that players could run the game without major restrictions.

However, the earliest official access date was May 15 for Premium Edition owners only. The full release is still scheduled for May 19 on PC and Xbox Series X/S.

This incident has drawn comparisons to the 2022 early-development leak of GTA VI and the 2023 playable-build leak of Marvel's Wolverine. In both cases, unreleased game material surfaced online before launch.

Microsoft and Playground Games have not yet made an official statement about the situation. However, the incident has already raised questions about preload verification and build security.

Forza Horizon 6 Leak Has Sparked Concerns Beyond Piracy

The leak impacts both the developers and legitimate players waiting for the official release.

Several reports pointed out that users who purchased the Premium Edition through legitimate sources for advanced access now risk playing later than those using unofficial builds. This has also drawn heavy criticism, as early access was supposed to begin as early as May 15.

The leak has also raised cybersecurity concerns. Unofficial game files can potentially contain malware or altered content. That is why players are strongly advised not to download leaked builds at all.

Players are strongly recommended to wait for the official launch or the early-access version, if pre-ordered, as that is the safest and most legitimate way to play the game.

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Written by

Nilendu Brahma

Edited by

Pulkit Prabhav