500,000 pre-orders! *Forza Horizon 6* has crossed the finish line before it’s even left the starting grid.

Selling extremely well.

This wave of pre-orders for Forza Horizon 6 isn’t just a modest hit—it’s like taking the lead by half a car length right off the starting line. The data shared by Alinea Analytics’ Ris Elliot is pretty straightforward: driven by pre-orders, the game has already reached 500,000 copies sold on Steam alone. And that figure was achieved a full month before launch, very much like exiting a corner early in a racing game and locking in the perfect racing line.

The timeline is also clear. Developed by Playground Games, Forza Horizon 6 will open early access on May 15, 2026, and officially launch for all players on May 19. For those who pre-order, getting a few days of early access is a real bonus—especially for racing fans, since everyone wants to get behind the wheel sooner, test the handling sooner, and start chasing lap times sooner.

Now let’s talk money. The report mentions that the title has already brought in more than $30 million on Steam, Valve’s platform. Hitting that number during the pre-order period says two things: first, the franchise name still carries serious weight; second, player confidence in this installment is clearly strong. Racing games haven’t exactly been lacking new releases in recent years, but very few can build this level of momentum before launch.

What’s even more intense is the projection for what comes next. According to the report, Forza Horizon 6 is expected to sell 2 million copies on Steam within 24 hours of release. If it really pulls that off, this won’t be just another blockbuster opening strong—it’ll be a full-force launch, the kind that lands a hit on the very first frame and instantly puts pressure on every comparable title. If marketing keeps ramping up over the next few weeks, sales will most likely climb even higher.

From a player’s perspective, this kind of data also sends a very clear signal: high-spec, big-brand, cross-platform racing games with enough market presence still have an extremely solid core audience. In games like these, the story is usually just cutscene material. What really determines whether players are willing to pay is the driving feel, visuals, optimization, and online ecosystem. If previous entries in the series have already nailed the control feedback and open-world pacing, then strong pre-order performance for a new installment comes naturally.

As for buying advice, I’ll keep it direct. If you’re already part of the Forza Horizon audience, enjoy open-world street racing, and want to jump into community events as early as possible, then this is definitely a title worth watching closely. If you care more about launch-day optimization and online stability, then it’s better to wait for player feedback after early access begins on May 15 before deciding whether to buy. That’s the safer move and helps you avoid launch-day growing pains.

One last point: the explosive pre-order performance of Forza Horizon 6 has already proven that its popularity on Steam is no fluke. 500,000 pre-orders, over $30 million in revenue, and a projected 2 million copies within 24 hours—those numbers together point to a textbook industry-level power opening. Now it all comes down to whether the content and driving feel can sustain that momentum once the game officially goes live. As long as the hands-on experience doesn’t disappoint, this car will most likely keep accelerating.