Forza Horizon 6 lands in Japan, and the Premium Upgrade is already stirring up arguments across Reddit, YouTube, and Xbox forums. At $59.99, it costs as much as the Standard Edition does in the UK, which has plenty of players questioning whether Microsoft has pushed the pricing too far this time. However, before you dismiss it or blindly add it to your cart, there is a more useful question to ask: what kind of Forza player are you?
What Is the Forza Horizon 6 Premium Upgrade?
The Forza Horizon 6 Premium Upgrade is an add-on bundle designed for players who already have access to the base game, whether through Xbox Game Pass, a Standard Edition purchase, or a Deluxe Edition purchase. Rather than buying the full Premium Edition outright, you can bolt on the extra content through this upgrade instead.
The Premium Upgrade costs $59.99 / £59.99 and includes the VIP Membership, Welcome Pack, Time Attack Car Pack, Car Pass, Italian Passion Car Pack, and two Premium Expansions post-launch. It also gives you 4 days of Early Access, meaning you can play from 15th May 2026 rather than waiting for the standard launch on 19th May 2026.
It is also worth noting that anyone who pre-orders any edition of Forza Horizon 6, including the Premium Upgrade, before launch receives an exclusive pre-tuned Ferrari J50 as a bonus. That is a small but worthwhile perk if you are already on the fence.
What Do You Get With the Premium Upgrade?
Here is a full breakdown of everything included:
| Included Item | What It Does |
| 4-Day Early Access | Play from 15th May instead of 19th May |
| VIP Membership | 2x credit boost, 3 VIP-exclusive Forza Edition cars, weekly Super Wheelspin, vanity items (crown flair, emote, horn), Tokyo City House |
| Welcome Pack | 5 pre-tuned cars, a Car Voucher for any Autoshow car, a free player house, and clothing tickets |
| Car Pass | 30 new cars delivered one per week after launch |
| Time Attack Car Pack | 8 legendary cars built for Time Attack Circuits across Japan |
| Italian Passion Car Pack | 4 Italian cars added post-launch |
| Expansion 1 + Expansion 2 | Two full post-launch expansions with new locations, cars, and gameplay |
| Pre-Order Bonus | Exclusive pre-tuned Ferrari J50 (for purchases before launch) |
One thing worth flagging on the Car Pass: the 30 cars are not delivered instantly. You receive one new car per week after launch, so it is a slow drip over several months rather than an immediate garage boost.
How Does the Premium Upgrade Compare to Other Editions?
The Standard Edition costs $69.99 and includes the base game only. The Deluxe Edition costs $99.99 and adds the Welcome Pack and Car Pass, but notably leaves out the expansions, VIP Membership, Time Attack Car Pack, Italian Passion Car Pack, and early access. The Premium Edition costs $119.99 and includes everything. The Premium Upgrade at $59.99 serves players who already have game access another way.
This makes the upgrade path particularly smart for Game Pass subscribers. Instead of paying $119.99 for the full Premium Edition, you pay your existing Game Pass subscription fee plus $59.99 for the upgrade and still get every premium item. However, it is important to know that if you cancel your Game Pass subscription later, you will keep any DLC you have purchased outright, but you will lose access to the base game itself.
Some players in the community have pointed out that the Premium Upgrade is only around $10 cheaper than the Standard Edition of the game, which makes it feel steep if you do not already have Game Pass. That context matters when you are weighing up the price.
| Edition | Price | Key Extras | Best For |
| Standard | $69.99 | Base game only | Players who only want the base game |
| Deluxe | $99.99 | Welcome Pack, Car Pass | Players who mainly want extra cars |
| Premium | $119.99 | Everything included | Players buying upfront without Game Pass |
| Premium Upgrade | $59.99 | Everything except base game | Game Pass or Standard/Deluxe owners wanting the full bundle |
Is the Early Access Actually Worth It?
This is the part of the deal that has sparked the most debate. In the UK, the Premium Upgrade costs £59.99, which is the same price as the Standard Edition of the game, and it represents a notable price increase compared to Forza Horizon 5’s £40/$50 upgrade.
However, it is important to be clear: you are not just paying for four days early access. The early access is one benefit among many. Four days early access alone is not a strong enough reason to pay for the Premium Upgrade, and it matters most for hardcore Horizon fans, content creators, and players who want to be in the game from day one.
If you are a casual player who can comfortably wait until 19th May, the early access perk will feel far less relevant. However, if you are planning to buy the expansions and Car Pass anyway, locking them in now at a bundle price makes genuine financial sense.
What Does the VIP Membership Add?
With the Forza Horizon 6 VIP Membership, you get a 2x credit boost on race rewards, 3 VIP-exclusive Forza Edition cars, a weekly bonus Super Wheelspin, special Vanity Items including a crown flair, emote, and horn, and the keys to the Tokyo City House, a classic Japanese home in the suburbs.
For players who grind the game regularly, the credit boost and weekly Super Wheelspin add up meaningfully over time, particularly in the early game where credits matter most. For casual players, VIP is more of a nice bonus than a must-have feature, but it adds real value rather than just cosmetic fluff.
What About the Two Expansions?
The two Premium Expansions are arguably the biggest long-term value in the entire bundle. Each expansion will introduce a new location to discover, new vehicles to collect and drive, and new gameplay content. However, no firm release dates or specific details have been announced for either expansion yet, so you are paying for them in advance before anyone can fully judge their quality.
The Forza Horizon series has a strong track record here. The expansions have been worth it for the last three Horizon games in the view of most long-time players, which gives the pre-purchase more credibility than it would have for a brand-new franchise. However, the risk of paying upfront for unannounced content is something every buyer should consider honestly.
It is also worth knowing that expansions and car packs will likely be available separately after launch, often at a discount during sales. So if you are unsure, waiting to see how the expansions are received before buying is a completely valid strategy.
Platform Availability
Forza Horizon 6 launches on Xbox Series X/S and PC on 19th May 2026, with Premium Early Access from 15th May 2026. The game is also confirmed for PS5, though a specific release date for that platform has not been announced yet. If you are a PS5 player considering a future purchase, the Premium Upgrade structure and pricing may differ once the PS5 version launches, so it is worth keeping an eye on official announcements.
The best place to purchase the Premium Upgrade is directly through the Xbox Store on console or the Microsoft Store or Xbox app on PC. Steam users may find fewer upgrade options depending on their region, so checking availability on your preferred storefront before buying is a good idea.
Who Should Buy the Premium Upgrade?
Buy the Premium Upgrade if you:
- Subscribe to Xbox Game Pass and want all the extra content
- Plan to buy the Car Pass and expansions at some point anyway
- Want to play from 15th May rather than 19th May
- Enjoy grinding credits and will benefit from the VIP boost and weekly Super Wheelspins
- Are a returning Forza Horizon fan who trusts the DLC quality
Skip the Premium Upgrade if you:
- Only want the base game experience
- Are brand new to the series and unsure whether you will stick with it
- Are comfortable waiting for the standard launch date
- Would rather wait and see how the expansions are received before paying
- Do not have Game Pass, since the upgrade is only around $10 cheaper than the Standard Edition on its own
If this is your first Forza game, buying the Standard Edition first and upgrading later once you know you enjoy it is a completely valid approach. The Premium Upgrade will remain available after launch.
Final Verdict
The Forza Horizon 6 Premium Upgrade is genuinely good value, but only for the right type of player. If you are a committed Horizon fan who will use the Car Pass, play both expansions, and grind enough to appreciate the VIP perks, the $59.99 price makes strong sense compared to buying everything individually, especially with Game Pass already in your corner.
However, if you are on the fence, or new to the series, starting with the Standard Edition and upgrading later is the smarter and safer call. The early access perk is nice, but four days is not a good enough reason on its own to justify the full price.
Bottom line: committed fans and Game Pass subscribers should go Premium. Everyone else should start Standard and decide later.
Forza Horizon 6: Quick Facts
| Detail | Info |
| Game | Forza Horizon 6 |
| Developer | Playground Games |
| Publisher | Xbox Game Studios |
| Standard Edition Release Date | 19th May 2026 |
| Early Access (Premium) | 15th May 2026 |
| Platforms | Xbox Series X/S, PC (PS5 later in 2026) |
| Standard Edition Price | $69.99 |
| Premium Upgrade Price | $59.99 |
| Premium Edition Price | $119.99 |
Leave a Reply