Forza Horizon 5 preview: This brilliant racing game can't come soon enough

Forza Horizon 5 Screenshot Source: Windows Central | Xbox Game Studios

When Forza Horizon 5 was initially announced, I wasn't expecting it to nigh immediately become my nigh anticipated game of the year. Despite my general lack of interest towards the racing genre, the formula that Playground Games was evolving with FH5 sank its teeth into my brain until I found myself in charge of all Forza Horizon 5 coverage at Windows Cardinal. In a similar fashion to its predecessors, Forza Horizon 5 is non just some other racing game.

When I was offered the opportunity to preview a slice of Forza Horizon 5 for a calendar week, I was filled with a familiar sense of reservation born of high levels of excitement. Would FH5 be the game I wanted it to exist? Now, I'm ecstatic to conclude that Playground is delivering on all its ambitious promises, and even exceeded my expectations going in. If the full campaign and online content meets the aforementioned level of quality I saw in the preview, Forza Horizon 5 will set the bar for the all-time racing games you can play.

Stunning visuals and a gorgeous earth

Forza Horizon 5 Screenshot Source: Windows Key | Xbox Game Studios

Forza Horizon games have ever impressed with their open up worlds and form-leading visuals, simply the jump in quality from Forza Horizon 4 to 5 was shocking to the indicate of existence almost unbelievable. Playing Forza Horizon v on Xbox Serial X, withal, showed that these graphical gains are no joke. Upgraded textures and lighting quality spearhead a huge leap in visual fidelity over its predecessor, making FH5 i of the all-time looking games in the world. FH4 was (and is) by no means a bad-looking game, but FH5 is comfortably superior.

Forza Horizon 5 is going to make waves for its sheer dazzler when it releases.

Forza Horizon v looks excellent fifty-fifty stripped of HDR and compressed into lower-resolution still images, and the experience when actually playing is on another level. I constantly establish myself stopping to admire the views and took far also many pictures during my time with Forza Horizon 5. It'south non enough that Playground elevated their game when it came to graphics, nevertheless, as they likewise designed a various world that fully takes reward of information technology.

Forza Horizon 5's map is set in Mexico, and features 11 varied and absolutely breathtaking biomes. Each area of the map features its ain personality, and it seems that there's something make-new to run into around every corner. I went on a road trip through a small section of FH5's world, and had a nail for the entire length of considerable time merely exploring this vibrant world. Information technology's also massive, with a ridiculous amount of ground to cover in even the fastest car.

Forza Horizon 5 Screenshot Source: Windows Central | Xbox Game Studios

You lot'll understandably spend a lot of time in Forza Horizon 5 moving at a high speed, which is when the improved draw distance (being able to see farther in the distance) and amend lighting brand a huge difference. When you slow down past fifty-fifty a fiddling, though, is when the exceptional texture work Playground has washed to make this earth feel real spring out at you lot. From the ground surfaces (historically ignored in racing games) to environmental details like foliage, rocks, and landscapes, everything in FH5 looks crisp and realistic.

I tin can't imagine the total game volition feature wildly different visuals, and then I'm comfortable maxim Forza Horizon five is going to brand waves for its sheer beauty when it releases afterward this twelvemonth.

Functioning, likewise, was practically flawless. Forza Horizon five lets you cull from two modes on Xbox Serial X|S (while PC players volition get more settings and options), with Quality and Performance. I played for several hours in both modes, and I honestly struggled to tell the difference a lot of the time. Quality mode ostensibly sacrifices functioning for greater visuals, and plays at a 4K resolution and 30 FPS. Performance mode, on the other hand, trades some visual settings for smoother functioning, playing at the same 4K resolution and sixty FPS.

The above pictures of the Ford Bronco are taken in either Quality way or Performance mode, and they wait practically identical. Even when playing the game, the differences were small-scale. Performance mode featured slightly worse shadow detail and lighting quality, while pop-in for textures was a footling more than noticeable. Yet, information technology looked incredible plenty that I never questioned the compromise I was making for 60 FPS.

Quality mode, on the other hand, offers the best visual fidelity on Xbox Series X at the expense of frames. Information technology too adds ray tracing to Forzavista, rendering your cars in unparalleled detail and realism. Over again, I could barely tell the departure versus Performance. While apparently playing at 30 FPS, Quality style withal felt surprisingly polish and fast, with nary a dropped frame anywhere. I'd be perfectly happy with either one of these modes, so information technology actually comes down to which i you lot slightly prioritize over the other: quality or performance?

You can check out some additional new screenshots of Forza Horizon five in action below.

Expected gameplay with surprising improvements

Forza Horizon 5 Screenshot Source: Windows Central | Xbox Game Studios

Forza Horizon five's preview featured approximately one hr of campaign content, with 1 major caveat: When I reached the end of the story content or left the game, my progress would be lost. This meant I had very limited access to FH5's story features, and had to explore the full world of Mexico without most of the races and events on the map. Still, the little I did become to play (over and over, I might add), showed that Forza Horizon v wants to offer a more personal story without taking away players' choices and freedom.

Fifty-fifty the starting time hour or so of Forza Horizon 5 features plenty of in-game cinematics, loveable characters with not bad voice acting, and the hint of a wider journey to become the greatest racer in Mexico. The looks I got into how Playground wants to hand players the keys to Forza Horizon 5 (and its massive list of cars) were besides promising, as the accolades programme means you lot get rewarded no thing what y'all practice.

Completing races, exploring the map, taking pictures, growing your car collection, and more all contribute towards accolades, which advantage points. I only had access to ane category of accolades (out of dozens) and I was still easily able to build up the required number of points I needed to progress.

I'g confident that Forza Horizon 5 will feature an enjoyable entrada, only I'g too curious to see how various systems like accolades interpret to long-term advantage for playing the game. Forza Horizon 5 actively seeks to encourage new players to join the game (besides additional accessibility settings and difficulty options), too, but the showtime hour introduced a decent amount of mechanics in relatively short order, which might be marginally overwhelming to the uninitiated.

Forza Horizon 5 Screenshot Source: Windows Central | Xbox Game Studios

When it comes to racing, Forza Horizon v looks similar more of the same at first. However, even here Playground seems to have made big strides over its predecessor. Cars feel similar they possess more weight, and y'all can exist more confident about what your motorcar will do when rounding a corner or stomping on the brakes. This makes sense, every bit Playground has invested a pregnant amount of time in rebuilding Forza Horizon's suspension, braking, and tire physics systems.

Quality-of-life improvements and additions can be institute everywhere in Forza Horizon v.

This has also translated to auto upgrades, which considers the new "Offroad" stat for cars. There are thousands of new performance upgrades players can utilise to tinker with their cars, including all-new tires, engine swaps, aero and body upgrades, rim options, and much more.

These kinds of quality-of-life improvements and feature additions tin can be found absolutely everywhere in Forza Horizon 5, such every bit the expanded and more inclusive graphic symbol creator (which now features prosthetic limbs and identity options), a more than attainable UI, and much more than. It's clear that Forza Horizon v is far more than just a new map, and Playground has made information technology clear this is its most ambitious game of all time. In fact, Playground fully intends to continue improving Forza Horizon five over fourth dimension with new improvements, fixes, content updates, temporary and permanent changes to its world, and more.

Forza Horizon v's gameplay feels familiar to veterans of the series, but also makes smart decisions to create a more accessible experience for newcomers. There are besides enough of welcome changes for the Forza Horizon community. Sadly, these improvements practise not include 720 or 900 degrees of rotation for the steering animation, or private license plates for each automobile (sorry).

A question of online and creation

Forza Horizon 5 Screenshot Source: Windows Central | Xbox Game Studios

It seems almost certain that Forza Horizon 5 volition smash the core and singleplayer gameplay experiences when it releases afterwards this yr, simply there's i huge department of the game that was not playable during my preview: absolutely everything online. Online has get increasingly important in Forza Horizon games over the years, culminating in FH4 adding brand-new online features and content through its Series updates and Festival Playlist.

In Forza Horizon five, Playground has fabricated many claims most how online has improved, and has even shown off some of it. The online globe is supposed to be more continued and open than ever before, with new tools to connect strangers to casual and cooperative game modes like Horizon Arcade (open-world minigames) and Horizon Bout (player versus AI coincidental races). Competitive game modes are more than accessible now, with marked improvements across the lath, including to The Eliminator Battle Royale. The Festival Playlist has been redesigned, will be present from solar day 1, and will inject fresh content in FH5 for years to come.

Despite all of this, I'1000 not sure how it all comes together in Forza Horizon 5. This will accept to wait until our full review, but the changes that Playground has revealed appear to be great choices.

Forza Horizon 5 Screenshot Source: Windows Central | Xbox Game Studios

I also tin can't speak to FH5's creative improvements, either, both because they're often connected online and because I lacked the ability to save things. This means I was unable to customize or paint my cars or tinker with the new EventLab suite of creative tools. EventLab, especially, could be a massive deal for Forza Horizon 5 if it works as advertised, but nosotros've non seen a ton of the new feature. Presumably, EventLab (which at present includes Super7 and Route Creator), will let players employ developer-like tools to design, create, and edit game rules for custom races, events, and much more.

FH5 has exceeded my expectations so far, but we'll have to expect to see the online portions.

I tin can't look to get my easily onto EventLab. If Playground has delivered a compelling collection of abilities and options, EventLab could provide years of fresh and unique content to Forza Horizon 5 from the community. Playground has fifty-fifty claimed that popular and high-quality EventLab creations could be featured in the weekly Festival Playlist, highlighting another way to engage players over time.

Forza Horizon 5 exceeded my expectations when it came to visuals and core gameplay, so I tin only promise that it's the same case with the online and creative portions of this epic open-world racer.

Forza Horizon 5 can't come up soon enough

Forza Horizon 5 Screenshot Source: Windows Central | Xbox Game Studios

Every bit my time with Forza Horizon 5'south preview came to an end, my excitement for the full game did nothing but go up. Playground has blown me away with everything they've shown so far, and the tiny segment of FH5 I had access to offered everything I could take asked for. Forza Horizon 5 is a love letter to automobile lovers, racing game fans, explorers and creatives, and (most notably), the all-encompassing Forza Horizon community.

Of course, Playground withal has a lot to prove with the online and multiplayer half of Forza Horizon five, how the game volition exist supported long term, and how polished the full game will be. FH5 was astonishingly polished for me (besides some very minor visual glitches and one audio bug), only my access was harshly express. While I was impressed by the story content I did get to play with, I'm likewise curious to see how the complete campaign preserves player choice without becoming confusing.

The foundation is here to become i of the greatest racing games of all time, and Playground Games and Xbox Game Studios possess the experience and talent necessary to cross the stop line with a victory. Truly, Forza Horizon 5 cannot come soon enough.

Forza Horizon five officially releases on Nov. 9, 2022, (November. v for those with early access) for Xbox Series X|South, Xbox 1, PC, and Xbox Game Pass. Forza Horizon v is at present available to preorder, with multiple editions from which to choose.

The bar is existence fix

Forza Horizon 5 Key Art

Forza Horizon 5 (Preorder)

An epic run a risk

Forza Horizon 5 is the latest project from Playground Games and continues the epic Forza Horizon adventure with a new roster of amazing cars and a brand-new location to explore: United mexican states. After previewing Forza Horizon 5, it looks like this ambitious game may actually deliver on all of its promises.

Vrooms included

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All your gaming needs, in one subscription

Is the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate the all-time value in all of gaming? It'south possible. Ultimate bundles your Xbox Live Gold subscription, an Xbox Game Laissez passer subscription for both Xbox consoles and Windows PCs, and Xbox Cloud Gaming for on-the-go. Forza Horizon 5 will be available through Xbox Game Pass solar day 1, including on consoles, PC, and the cloud.

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