For years, the community—especially the drifting scene—has begged for a Japan-based Horizon. We finally got a glimpse of what’s possible with the return of Fujimi Kaido in Forza Motorsport. If you haven’t driven it yet, I highly recommend it. It proves Playground can deliver that *textbook* Japanese vibe—bright neon, autumn foliage, tight roads—that we’ve wanted for years.
Fujimi Kaido set the bar, and I believe a Horizon map in Japan could surpass it.
Now, let’s talk maps. Horizon maps have grown with each release—FH5’s was 50% larger than FH4 at 108 square kilometers. But bigger hasn’t always been better. FH5, for example, had wide open spaces that often felt empty.
Japan, however, is naturally dense. It’s alive with people, traffic, lights, and skyscrapers. Cities like Tokyo pack 1.5% of the world’s population into a fraction of the space, which means narrow streets, alleys, and skylines glowing with neon. FH3 gave us fictionalized Australia, FH4 a stylized Britain—but FH6 has the chance to create a Tokyo that feels more authentic, less “loosely based.”
Tokyo excites me, but the real test will be the areas in between. Japan isn’t just cities—it’s farmland and mountains. In my opinion, those mountains are the heart of a Japan map. You can’t have Horizon Japan without distant peaks, vibrant foliage, and dreamlike scenic passes.
I don’t just want generic mountain roads; I want real touge. Mt. Fuji’s famous touge, for example, stretches 13 km of tight, winding inclines. The FH6 trailer already teases a Fuji-inspired peak, so a touge of that scale feels within reach.
Another key piece of Japanese car culture is the expressways. Legends like Smokey Nagata of Top Secret pushed his cars to their limits there, while groups like Team Mid-Night owned the Wangan Bayshore Expressway with late-night high-speed runs. The expressways aren’t just roads—they’re history, culture, and lore. Horizon should honor that.
Entire games like *Tokyo Xtreme Racer* were built around the Shuto Expressway Loop, proving how much content can come from those highways.
Smokey Nagata and Team Mid-Night are just part of the culture. Countless other icons and shops shaped Japanese car history. Forza has already referenced names like HKS, Mine’s, and Top Secret—so why not build a story around them in FH6?
I’m not expecting a fully interactive tuning shop system, but even small nods or collaborations would add depth to the world.
We need the return of Tuner Unicorn cars. Forza Edition cars are fine, but nothing compares to FM4’s Unicorns like the Mine’s R34 or Top Secret S15. Imagine unlocking a Top Secret R35 GTR, complete with kit, paint, and spec—it would have collectors drooling.
Rumors suggest Playground has been rescanning outdated models, raising hopes that more legends could make a comeback. And it’s not just about the big names. I want JDM heroes, market exclusives, and quirky Kei cars to get the same attention supercars have received for years.