Haven’t seen this one posted yet, and just wondering if anyone has early thoughts of what expansions will come - or instead you want to see - for FH6? The usual two, or more or less? Or will they even expand the main map this time around instead of standalone maps?
Now it’s not the main map area, I’m going to keep pumping Hokkaido for one of the expansions. It’s isolated so has to be travelled to in the real-world ‘canon’, and an island so it has its own natural border for a map.
For the second, I honestly think they’re going to run LEGO back again, with having had two Hot Wheels expansions either side of it. I thought I’d heard it was popular in Japan anyway, but there’s a whole theme park there too.
I hope they finally add the expansions as a actual map expansion and not just a separate map. I mean it makes sense to have a separate map for lego, as it would be weird to just have a part of the map with lego stuff all around, or Blizzard Mountain where the conditions are completely different. But general map expansions where they introduce a new part of the story line or a new type of racing that then gets carried into parts of the rest of the open world would be great. But of course the game engine needs to be build for that and the servers need to be able to connect players on a huge map without issues, otherwise small separate expansions are probably the better decision.
Also, just to point that out, Hokkaido is a real location and expansion maps have never used real locations before, it was always some island in the north of Britain or an island in the Mediterranean or some mountain in Australia. So I’m pretty sure they continue this trend, as name place licenses can be quite expensive.
Yeah that is quite a flaw in my position for sure.
I thought before that if they did end up doing Japan, they’d start out with a less intensive setting and then maybe add a ‘Tokyo’-style city and expressway setting for an expansion.
I’m currently in Japan and wanted to contribute some local insights and proposals that I believe are highly viable for development.
While Hot Wheels are available at major toy stores (like Toys R Us) and definitely have a fanbase here, it’s worth noting that in Japan, a country that loves toys, miniature cars usually refer culturally to Tomica or Choro-Q. This localization detail is crucial.
Given that the map is set in Japan, I have a few strong proposals:
Island Nation Connectivity: If the developers have the resources, I strongly recommend expanding the map to feature Hokkaido in the north and Okinawa in the south. Implementing ferry mechanics or similar transport would create a compelling scenario where players can truly travel across the entire country, emphasizing Japan’s unique geography.
Model Kit Collaborations: Japan is the mecca of plastic models. I think it would be fascinating if the game included DLC collaborations with iconic brands like TAMIYA, perhaps introducing Mini 4WDs for new racing modes that could even battle against Hot Wheels cars.
Content Depth: Crucially, I would like the variety of the map and activities to be at least on par with that of FH4, ensuring the massive new setting offers rich and diverse gameplay.
This is a fan-made creation, but this is what it would look like if a Mini 4WD were to race through the city.
Now, let’s imagine a completely impossible expansion—one that the developers will likely never pursue due to its scope and complexity—but which would perfectly continue our JDM theme.
Imagine a DLC: Karafto Island—a huge new map based on the territory located geographically just north of Hokkaido.
This expansion would deliver a brand new, harsh climatic region that hasn’t been seen in Forza Horizon yet:
Seasonal Shift: Autumn and Winter here would be truly brutal, making it the ideal testing ground for AWD performance and rally tires.
Unique Vibe: The map would feature a unique mix of Japanese architectural ruins (a nod to the region’s history) and austere industrial landscapes. It would be the perfect place for gravel racing and challenging trials deep in the taiga wilderness.
Automotive Contrast: This would be the ultimate playground for the JDM cars I proposed! In these vast spaces, the Toyota Chaser and Subaru Forester wouldn’t be show-cars; they’d be tough, resilient “workhorses,” perfectly capturing the spirit of Far East JDM culture I mentioned earlier.
This kind of map would be the boldest and most unexpected location in Forza Horizon history!
(Well, those who understand, understand that this is impossible to do, but it would he)
I don’t want any product cross-over tie-ins. Lego was the only one I enjoyed, but that really came down to the race track and the one dirt track at the bottom of the map. It’s not that I don’t or can’t enjoy them, it’s more that PGG desperately needs to show that they are about more than silly gimmicks and can make car and driver focused experiences. The product cross-overs can be good for a laugh, but always lack depth and replayability, which often stifles the incredible potential this game has as a driving and racing platform.
A more extreme weather location is always something I want. Actually, I’d prefer if there were two extreme weather DLCs, especially if we can choose what season it is in the base game. Having an exclusively winter map like Blizzard Mountain was, where the devs can throw truly harsh winter conditions at us, would be great, but only as long as we have the option to escape winter when we desire. Having that alongside a more traditional stormy island would be the perfect DLC set in my mind.
I guess it also depends on how they approach Cross Country this iteration as well. If it’s still arcade nonsense, then the extreme weather stuff is less appealing. But if they give us proper terrain battles for CC, I’d say two extreme weather DLCs, with one of them being a brutally harsh perpetual winter, is a must.
An expansion I’d like to see is something along the lines of a multi-layout race resort (separate from the base map) that caters to nearly all disciplines. In terms of map design, it’d have two ovals, one that is Motegi-sized an another oval as big as Gran Turismo’s Route X which would be great for racing hypercars with the long straight doubling as a drag strip. Then there would be technical roads and course layouts built inside of the ovals which can be used for racing and drifting.
In terms of new mechanics and features, it’d be a good way to introduce split times, qualifying, tire wear, fuel usage, pit stops and more laps in circuit races, the return of Drift Adventure from FH4 (if it’s not already in FH6 at launch), and drag racing could finally get the overhaul it deserves. (again, if it’s not already overhauled at launch).
Horizon never had the option to choose tyre hardness/softness, so that could be a selectable option before the start of a race and whenever you pit in.
I would like to see Ridge Racer DLC in FH6. While I would appreciate an entire Ridge City map, even just some of the cars and music would be awesome. There’s a 100+ post thread about the idea here. As the post from April 7 pointed out, Bandai Namco Entertainment is encouraging others to license their IP.
To be fair, that 100 reply thread was just the same two people gushing over Ridge Racer for over a year. Now that being said, as a casual fan of Ridge Racer, it is an inspired idea, especially since Namco is interested in licensing the property out as you mentioned.
However, I don’t see how a Ridge Racer expansion would work in a Horizon game beyond the cars and maybe the soundtracks from older game being imported over. Ridge Racer’s typical physics engines are the complete antithesis of what physics engines for racing games have been now for the last decade, so I just don’t see it happening.
That, and only gamers of a certain age are going to know Ridge Racer. Hot Wheels and Lego transcend age while the last mainline Ridge Racer game came out in 2006. There are people old enough to vote in America who were born after the release of Ridge Racer 7. Heck, Kimi Antonelli was only two months old when Ridge Racer 7 launched.
Although despite of Ridge Racer’s physics engine being a complete anthitesis. We thought of using them as street / race cars with an optional drift mode, as seen on the Mustang Mach E. Then, cars like Crinale and Angelus should stay on Extreme Track toys with a good drift and grip respectively.
The IP Encouraging initiative of early 2025 might also not be for crossovers only, but also merchandise and stuff. The chances of this happening on FH6 is “slim”, but it could be a good idea to expand the crossovers, let alone a dead franchise that I always cared for.
Either way, it seems understandable, Runoff… I liked to point this out though
Fantasy DLC Idea: Karafto Island
