Forza Horizon 6: Major leak after Steam preload error
Just days before its planned release, Forza Horizon 6 for PC has been leaked. Reports are circulating online that the entire game was uploaded as an unencrypted Steam preload, and various piracy websites are immediately offering the 155 GB file for download via torrents.
Forza Horizon 6 – Official Launch Trailer
The cause is likely the preload of Forza Horizon 6. In the run-up to the release, so that players could explore Japan as quickly as possible, Steam may have inadvertently released a decryption update for the game files too early. Microsoft is not standing idly by while one of its biggest games of the year is illegally distributed and has already taken action, requesting various websites to remove the content.
It remains to be seen how well the game will play offline, and these pirated copies will naturally be excluded from post-launch plans. For comparison, Forza Horizon 5 sold an estimated 7.2 to 8.4 million copies on Steam, according to data from Sensor Tower. Pre-launch piracy will therefore undoubtedly reduce potential sales figures considerably.
The official release dates for Forza Horizon 6 have not yet been announced, but pre-orders on Steam were already going very well before the launch. At the time of writing, it is the second best-selling game on Steam.
Forza Horizon 6 is expected to launch on May 15th in Early Access for all owners of the Premium Edition or the Premium Add-On Bundle for the Standard Edition, and on May 19th for the regular version. The game will also be available for Xbox Series X and Series S as well as PC platforms, but Steam is expected to be a major contributor to its success.
The game will also include an official controller and a matching headset.
