Forza Horizon 5 gameplay breakdown: 7 most exciting changes coming to the racing adventure

Forza Horizon 5
(Image credit: Playground Games)

Forza Horizon 5 is officially on the way, and we won't have to wait long to rev up our engines and get stuck into some next-gen racing goodness. Set to release on Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC, and Xbox Game Pass on November 9, 2021, the next entry in Playground Games' iconic racing series will take us to Mexico in what is said to be the biggest and most diverse open-world in the franchise so far. From gorgeous vistas that will take full advantage of the Xbox Series X's hardware, to all new features and a campaign to steer your way through, there's a lot to get excited about. We've gathered together the most exciting highlights from the recent reveal during the Xbox E3 2021 showcase. 

The Horizon Festival is coming to Mexico 

Forza Horizon 5

(Image credit: Playground Games)

After hitting the green English countryside in Forza Horizon 4 back in 2018, the latest upcoming title will be taking us to the vibrant setting of Mexico. From rainforests to seaside towns and active volcanoes, the team is committed to a faithful and authentic recreation of Mexico for us to drive through. It even features mural artwork from Mexican artist Farid Rueda. From everything that's been shown off so far, it looks utterly gorgeous.  

There's a new "adventurous" campaign 

Forza Horizon 5

(Image credit: Playground Games)

With a new location comes a new campaign, and this time around we'll be able to get stuck into what Playground describes as an "adventurous journey across Mexico". In a little snippet we get to see in the gameplay demo, cars are driving through the lush Mexican rainforest on an expedition. During the campaign, you'll get to explore new locations and discover new places that can be used to expand the Horizon festival. As with all Horizon games, it'll be exciting to see what kinds of races and adventures the new setting will deliver to us. 

Forza Horizon 5 showcases the capabilities of the Xbox Series X  

Forza Horizon 5

(Image credit: Playground Games)

Forza Horizon 5 looks set to make full use of the capabilities of the Xbox Series X and bring to life an incredibly detailed Mexico. The gameplay demo shows off some picturesque vistas and impressive light rays that bounce off of car windows - in fact, a lot of the in-game footage looks so realistic, you could mistake it for shots of the real-world locations. Forza Horizon 5 will take the graphics up another gear with ray tracing added to the cars, HDR captures, 4K 30 FPS on Series X, 1080p 30 FPS on Series S, and an optional 60 FPS performance mode. 

Seasonal weather makes more an impact this time around  

Forza Horizon 5

(Image credit: Playground Games)

Weather that changes with the seasons was first introduced in Forza Horizon 4, and it's set to make a comeback in the next entry. Only this time, the weather is said to make an impact in new ways. With many different biomes to drive through and explore, the new map in Forza Horizon 5 will be affected by the change of seasons in unique ways. There will also be certain areas that can only be accessed depending on the season. So, for example, if you're making your way through the rainforests and jungles, you can expect to be hit with some heavy rainfall at times.  

Forza Horizon 5 will be the "most social and connected experience"  

Forza Horizon 5

(Image credit: Playground Games)

Just like past Forza Horizon games that came before it, the series' fifth instalment will see the return of the multiplayer experience in what is said to be the most social and connected entry yet. Those promises are headlined by a feature known as Horizon Open, which brings together a host of traditional online multiplayer modes and competitive experiences, while other additions include Horizon Tour, where you can meet up with other players on the road, and Horizon Arcade, where you take on minigames and challenges with other drivers. Some of the new events we've seen include breaking piñatas on the road, so it'll be interesting to see what else is in store. 

EventLab lets your creativity thrive  

Forza Horizon 5

(Image credit: Playground Games)

EventLab is set to deliver a powerful toolset that will let you create your own custom stunts, challenges, races, and all-new modes. In the gameplay demo, we got to see a car veer into bowling pins across a custom racetrack, which looks set to be one of the many creative ways you craft and share your own custom challenges with the Forza Horizon creator community. 

More character customization options  

Forza Horizon 5

(Image credit: Playground Games)

Being able to select and customize your own character and change up your outfits for the next time you take the wheel is one of the simple joys of the game. And happily, you'll be able to do this once again in Forza Horizon 5, only this time there will be a more diverse selection of characters to choose from with customizable hairstyles. The team has also added in more inclusive options, such as the ability to select prosthetic limbs for your character and choose your voice and preferred pronouns.  


There's still more to come in the week ahead. Be sure to check out the E3 2021 schedule so you don't miss a moment. 

Heather Wald
Senior staff writer

I started out writing for the games section of a student-run website as an undergrad, and continued to write about games in my free time during retail and temp jobs for a number of years. Eventually, I earned an MA in magazine journalism at Cardiff University, and soon after got my first official role in the industry as a content editor for Stuff magazine. After writing about all things tech and games-related, I then did a brief stint as a freelancer before I landed my role as a staff writer here at 12DOVE. Now I get to write features, previews, and reviews, and when I'm not doing that, you can usually find me lost in any one of the Dragon Age or Mass Effect games, tucking into another delightful indie, or drinking far too much tea for my own good. 

Read more
Forza Horizon 5 the real deal reasonably priced car seasonal championship volvo 850 R racing
Forza Horizon 5 is the latest Xbox game to make the leap to PS5, and it's launching this spring with all of the same content and DLC
Forza Horizon 5 barn finds barn with yellow door
All Forza Horizon 5 Barn Finds locations
Fable 4 screenshot of the protagonist kicking a chicken in a field
Fable 4's pre-alpha gameplay signals a new era for the series, but hobbe fights and chicken-kicking prove its old school spirit is still alive
Fable 4 June 2024
Fable 4: Everything we know so far about the new Fable game
GTA 6: A man and a woman sitting on a car in the poster for Grand Theft Auto 6.
GTA 6: Everything we know so far
Split Fiction screenshot of Mio looking at mysterious purple sparks in a fantasy world with Zoe in the background
Split Fiction is now my most anticipated game of 2025 and proves Hazelight continues to be the most inventive studio out there when it comes to co-op adventures
Latest in Racing
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Nintendo knows you're waiting for Mario Kart 9, but it still wants you to run a million laps in Mario Kart 8 first
Wheel World
The spirit of Burnout Paradise lives on in this fabulous bicycle racing game from the makers of my favorite indie fighting game – a true Steam Next Fest gem
Sonic Racing CrossWorlds
Sonic Racing CrossWorlds announcement trailer proves Sega is coming for Mario Kart 9's throne with transforming cars and a closed beta this month
Need For Speed Unbound
The Need For Speed series is pumping the brakes as "Criterion are joining their colleagues working on Battlefield" instead of tuning more cars
Forza Horizon 5 the real deal reasonably priced car seasonal championship volvo 850 R racing
Forza Horizon 5 is the latest Xbox game to make the leap to PS5, and it's launching this spring with all of the same content and DLC
Tokyo Xtreme Racer
Cult classic racing series returns 18 years after its once-final entry on Xbox 360 to 95% overwhelmingly positive Steam reviews
Latest in Features
Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX still of protagonist Machu
I beg of you, learn nothing more about the incredible new Gundam anime beyond the fact that you should learn nothing more about it
A painting shows a woman sleeping as a demon with three eyes bites her chest.
Final Fantasy 7 concept artist Yoshitaka Amano's new gallery exhibit summarizes everything I love about the Square Enix games, even though he might have stood me up
Pokemon Legends: Z-A screenshot
Pokemon Legends: Z-A looks to finally bring my anime-inspired dreams of truly active combat to life
Frieren and Fern with their foreheads pressed together in Frieren Beyond Journey's End
Frieren season 2 release date, story, trailer, and everything else we know
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 screenshot of Henry wearing a fancy coat, hat, and spectacles
I'm terrible at the combat in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, so I'm beating the RPG as a medieval rizz master instead
Lego Twilight, Easter Egg, Eeyore, and Flowers divided by white lines, with a GamesRadar+ new Lego badge in the middle
New Lego sets in February 2025, from Twilight to Winnie the Pooh