Forza Horizon 6 Prepares to Launch With a Pricey $60 Early Access Bundle
AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·
Forza Horizon 6 is launching on May 19 with a $60 Premium Upgrade bundle that unlocks four days of early access for Game Pass subscribers, drawing criticism from fans over its high price tag.
Xbox recently showed off a stunning gameplay reveal for Forza Horizon 6 during its Developer Direct livestream, giving players a clear look at the upcoming Japan-set open world racer. While the visuals and setting have the community excited for the May 19 release on PC and Xbox Series X/S, the pricing structure is already raising eyebrows. According to reporting by Tom Phillips at IGN South Africa, the game will retail for $69.99 for the Standard Edition, while the full Premium Edition climbs to $119.99. For players planning to jump in through Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, a $59.99 Premium Upgrade Bundle will be available to unlock the game four days early on May 15.
That upgrade bundle costs nearly as much as the base game itself, marking a ten-dollar price jump over the equivalent package offered for Forza Horizon 5. Beyond the coveted early access window, the bundle includes a pass for future expansions, VIP status, a welcome pack, and several car packs. However, many of those bundled extras do not have a concrete release date yet, meaning players are essentially pre-paying for content that will roll out months down the line. As digital economies and tiered pricing models become standard across the industry, the community reaction on platforms like Reddit and social media highlights growing fatigue over how early access is being monetized.
For modern players who treat gaming as a primary social space, paying a steep entry fee just to avoid missing out on launch weekend hype is a tough pill to swallow. While tiered editions and early access periods are now a familiar part of publisher launch strategies, pricing an upgrade so close to the cost of a brand new game tests the limits of player goodwill. As we get closer to the May launch, players will have to decide if a four-head start and a promise of future cars are worth the heavy extra investment.
Tags: Forza Horizon 6, Xbox, Gaming News, IGN, Game Pass
Original article: IGN South Africa