Forza Horizon 6 leak prompts swift Microsoft player bans

Microsoft and developer Playground Games have reportedly started banning the Xbox accounts of players who accessed a cracked version of the highly-anticipated Forza Horizon 6 after it was leaked online just over a week before its official release.

According to The Verge, the full, playable version of the upcoming racing game appeared on file-sharing sites over the weekend. The leak occurred after some Steam users were allegedly able to download an unencrypted pre-load of the game.

The issue first gained widespread attention when, as the report noted, game files "totalling more than 150GB, had appeared online" before posts on Reddit containing the links were removed. Shortly after, cracks to bypass the game's online security were made widely available.

This leak is a significant blow to the publisher, as the game is not scheduled to launch until 19 May, with early access for Premium Edition owners starting on 15 May.

In a swift response, Microsoft has reportedly started issuing bans to players attempting to play the unauthorised version. While the leaked build is said to be playable, users have reported limitations with online functions and occasional crashes.

Players have shared suspension notices received for playing the build. One such notice reportedly warns of a suspension for "cheating/unallowed modding".

Neither Microsoft nor developer Playground Games has issued a formal public statement addressing the leak itself, but the enforcement action serves as a direct consequence for players.

For those unversed, Forza Horizon 6 is set in a fictionalised version of Japan, a location long requested by fans. The game world is said to be the largest in the franchise's history, featuring a detailed version of Tokyo and over 550 cars at launch.

The title is set to debut on Xbox Series S / X and PC, with Playground Games and Turn 10 Studios also working to bring the game to the PS5 later this year.

This incident echoes a similar situation earlier this year when a pre-release PC version of Death Stranding 2 suffered the same fate, also reportedly following an unencrypted Steam pre-load.

The leak has reignited discussions in the gaming community about the effectiveness of digital rights management solutions, which are designed to prevent piracy. The incident highlights the major financial risks developers and publishers face in the final days before a launch.

Playground Games is also concurrently working on a highly anticipated reboot of the Fable franchise, which is expected to be released in the autumn of 2026.