A playable version of Forza Horizon 6 appeared on PC platforms this week, well before its official debut. The build quickly spread across piracy forums, allowing some players early access. Playground Games has now addressed the incident, warning that offenders will receive harsh penalties, including franchise-wide and hardware bans.

Early accounts suggested the files leaked through unsecured Steam pre-load data. On Monday, Playground Games refuted this explanation.

“We are aware of reports that a build of Forza Horizon 6 has been obtained prior to its release and can confirm this is not the result of a pre-load issue,” the developer stated on X.

Forza Horizon 6 Reportedly Leaks on Steam Days Ahead of Launch

“We are taking strict enforcement action against any individuals found accessing this build including franchise-wide and hardware bans. We encourage fans to sit tight for the game's release on May 19,” the statement continued.

Prior to the official response, players who tried the pirated build online shared evidence of immediate bans. Images circulated showing notifications from the Forza Community Team, with penalties extending roughly 8,000 years - into the year 9999.

We are aware of reports that a build of Forza Horizon 6 has been obtained prior to its release and can confirm this is not the result of a pre-load issue.
We are taking strict enforcement action against any individuals found accessing this build including franchise-wide and…
— Playground Games (@WeArePlayground) May 11, 2026

SteamDB Provides Insight on Forza Horizon 6 Leak Origin

After the breach, about 155GB of Forza Horizon 6 files showed up on SteamDB. The site, which monitors Steam activity, offered its analysis and a probable source for the exposure.

“Forza Horizon 6 was very likely leaked by someone with early access to the build (reviewer or similar),” SteamDB posted on X, referencing Playground Games' update. “At around the same time, the file list appeared on SteamDB because someone (could be someone else) used our token dumper. SteamDB does not display or share keys, nor can it provide downloads.”

Playground Games has yet to reveal the exact leak source.

The PC files for Forza Horizon 6 emerged over the weekend and were soon assembled into a functional build shared on piracy sites. Enthusiasts posted captures and clips from the unauthorized version.

The open-world racer hits PC and Xbox Series S/X on May 19, with Premium edition pre-orders unlocking early access from May 15.