Forza Horizon 6: Playground Games Hits Pirates with 8,000-Year Bans After Forza Horizon 6 Leak
The developers behind Forza Horizon 6 are not playing around. After a massive 155GB build of the game leaked onto piracy websites over the weekend, Playground Games has begun issuing "franchise-wide and hardware bans" for people accessing the leaked version of the game that effectively last until the end of time.
One brazen leaker who posted gameplay footage to YouTube found themselves slapped with a hardware ID ban set to expire on December 31, 9999. While this acts as a lifetime ban, the pirate claimed to be "not worried about it at all," and is allegedly continuing to play on an alternate account with a hidden gamertag.
Confusion still surrounds exactly how the files got out. While some initial reports suggested a botched Steam preload, Playground Games was quick to shoot down those rumors.
"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 studio stated. "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."
SteamDB also chimed in to clarify its role, suggesting the leak likely originated from a reviewer or someone else with legitimate early access. They noted that Forza Horizon 6 was "very likely leaked by someone with early access to the build (reviewer or similar)," and clarified that while a file list appeared on their site due to a "token dumper," they do not provide downloads or keys.
The leak comes just days before the game's official early access period begins on May 15th. Despite the drama, the title is currently the second top-selling game on Steam and remains one of the most anticipated releases of the year.
Critics of the leak point out that pirating the game ruins the experience, as Forza Horizon relies heavily on live weekly events and seasonal updates. For those willing to wait a few more days, the official launch is set for May 19th on PC, Xbox, and Game Pass. As one fan site joked regarding the hackers: "we can't wait to see you on 31st December 9,999!!!"
