Forza Horizon 6: Keep your hands off cherry blossom trees and temples
Forza Horizon 6 is now available for everyone who pre-ordered before the official release on May 19th. Fans immediately noticed that cherry blossom trees cannot be destroyed. This is noteworthy, as almost all other trees in the game can be smashed. Design chief Torben Ellert explained to the Japan Times that this was a deliberate choice to honor the cultural traditions of Japan, where the game is set.
“Almost all trees in the game are destructible to ensure that exploring the world map is both fun and rewarding. However, some tree species are not destructible, such as cherry trees, as these represent an iconic element of Japanese culture.”
Torben Ellert, Head of Design for Forza Horizon 6
Furthermore, players cannot break into temples or other places of “cultural significance,” he said.
Cherry blossom trees are revered and respected in Japan as a symbol of beauty and transience. When they bloom in mid-March, they attract huge crowds in major cities like Tokyo and draw international tourists during their brief flowering season.
In 2025, Playground Games, the developer of Forza Horizon 6, announced that they had visited Japan for research purposes. The company also worked with cultural consultant Kyoko Yamashita, who supported the UK-based team during development.
Forza Horizon 6 as a living world
“Japan is widely popular, but it can also be easily misunderstood if viewed only from afar,” said Yamashita. “The team wanted to present more than just a postcard or a backdrop; they wanted to create a living world. Involving a cultural consultant early on helps in making thousands of small, respectful decisions: how neighborhoods sound, even what the color of a sign conveys about a business. These small decisions contribute to credibility and help avoid stereotypes, while also creating a truly immersive experience for players.”
Another game set in Japan (albeit in the 16th century), Assassin’s Creed Shadows, came under fire because players could destroy objects and injure monks in shrines, causing them to bleed. A post-release update made certain objects indestructible and prevented monks from bleeding. This followed a statement by the Japanese Prime Minister: “Damaging a shrine is unthinkable—it is an insult to the nation.”
Forza Horizon 6 is currently available for purchasers of the Premium Edition (€120/$120) or the Upgrade Bundle (€60/$60 more) (also available to eager Game Pass members). The Standard Edition (€70/$70) will be released on May 19, the same day Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass members can also start playing. Despite the high price during the pre-order phase, Forza Horizon 6 boasted over 165,000 concurrent players on Steam and is the platform’s second best-selling game in the US, just behind Subnautica 2.
Forza Horizon 6 is available now for Xbox and PC, with a PS5 version coming later this year.
