Skip advert
Advertisement

Forza Horizon 5 map revealed in full – Mexican world the largest yet

The open-world Forza Horizon series has become a go-to for car fans, and its fifth instalment is just around the corner

Forza Horizon was launched in 2012 as a spinoff to the extremely popular Forza racing series, opening up the next generation of true open-world driving games giving players the ability to explore an environment in a huge array of different vehicles. Almost a decade since the series began, the fifth installment is heading to Mexico, reaching players on November 9th with pre-orders open now.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Two months since the announcement, its developers have given us our first look at the brand new map. From a loose-surface Baja circuit to a sports stadium, it looks to be the most diverse map yet with something to suit everyone’s needs. Both asphalt and dirt switchbacks, the longest highway ever featured in a Horizon game, multiple runways for those impromptu drag races and a unique tunnel system beneath the main city all make an appearance. Not only is it diverse, it’s also the largest map ever featured in a Forza Horizon game, up in size by 50% over the Horizon 4.

> Best driving games out now

Usually, racing games like Gran Turismo or the traditional Forza Motorsport restrict players to the confines of a circuit, but Horizon changed the rules by removing these barriers almost entirely. The fifth iteration is no exception, set in a landscape inspired by Mexico complete with a total of eleven biomes and seasons that affect each in different ways. These include desert areas, jungles and even an active volcano.

A full car list is yet to be announced, but with over 600 models in Horizon 4 you’re unlikely to be short on choice. So far we’ve spotted Chevrolet’s new Corvette C8, the Koenigsegg Jesko, Land Rover’s new Defender 110, the Porsche Taycan, Rimac Nevera and most notably, Mercedes-AMG’s Project One that will feature on the front cover.

Aside from new cars and a fresh map, Playground Games says it has also improved the online aspect of the game with more events, even more customisable user-created races.

In the three years since the launch of UK-based Horizon 4, its developers have improved the game’s architecture behind the scenes too. High Dynamic Range 12K resolution images of Mexico’s sky are used for realistic lighting and raytraced lighting also makes its first appearance in a Forza game within Forzavista car previews.

Forza Horizon 5 is available to pre-order now and will be available on November 9th, or November 5th should you purchase the Premium Edition. Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One and Windows 10 are all officially supported.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Assetto Corsa Evo: impressions, car list, tracks and future roadmap
Assetto Corsa Evo
News

Assetto Corsa Evo: impressions, car list, tracks and future roadmap

The maker of 2014’s Assetto Corsa has launched the next chapter in the popular series, bringing evo’s favourite cars and tracks to the virtual world
8 May 2025
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Honda Civic Type R for £5k off – save 10 per cent on the ultimate hot hatch
Honda Civic Type R deal
News

Honda Civic Type R for £5k off – save 10 per cent on the ultimate hot hatch

The Civic Type R is not long for this world and there are deals to be had on Honda’s pricey but near-perfect hot hatch
26 Jun 2025
Frontline MGA Factory Edition review – a quaint classic with a modern heart
Frontline MGA Factory Edition
Reviews

Frontline MGA Factory Edition review – a quaint classic with a modern heart

The MGB restomod specialist turns its attention to the B’s pretty predecessor. The result is compelling
26 Jun 2025
Can Lotus survive its latest crisis?
Lotus factory
Opinion

Can Lotus survive its latest crisis?

Lotus’s latest troubles are grabbing headlines, but the writing’s been on the wall for some time.
28 Jun 2025