Suggestion: I’d like to suggest that the cars in Forza Horizon 5 with a digital gear indicator on the dashboard should display the actual gear in use (1, 2, 3, etc.) rather than just “D” for drive, or make it optional for the players to choose depending on their own preference.
Description: In Forza Horizon 5, certain cars have a digital gear indicator in the dashboard, and some are already capable of displaying the current gear being used, but others only show a static “D” for drive (and R for reverse). This inconsistency limits the immersion for players who prefer a realistic experience, especially those using a steering wheel and pedals setup. For players such as myself who occasionally want to maximize the realism, playing without any HUD elements, using the “driver” view which changes the view closer to the dash, and relying on the car’s internal displays is a major part of this realism. However, without consistent gear display functionality, it becomes challenging to monitor gear shifts accurately since in my case I don’t use a physical shifter and only the steering wheels paddles for gear changes.
Since some cars already support showing the specific gear (1, 2, 3, etc.) on the dashboard, the feature should be possible for all the cars that are capable of showing “D” and “R”. For example, the Porsche 992 911 Carrera S in the game displays the specific gear in use on its digital display, which allows players to track their gears precisely. However, the Porsche 992 911 GT3 RS, despite having a similar digital display, only shows “D” for drive (and “R” for reverse"), making it impossible to see the actual gear without HUD elements. I added screenshots of these two cars from the “driver” view which shows the difference.
992 911 Carrera S
992 911 GT3RS
Expanding this functionality to all cars with digital displays would enhance realism across the board, creating a cohesive experience for all car models. For players who use manual shifting or simply want a more authentic experience, seeing the actual gear displayed on the dashboard allows for better control over the car’s performance and a closer approximation to real-world driving.
Implementing this improvement would make Forza Horizon 5 even more immersive for car enthusiasts and simulation fans alike, elevating the game’s authenticity. By unifying the gear display across all eligible cars, Forza Horizon 5 would continue to set the standard for realistic, detailed racing experiences.