Forza Horizon 6 has reportedly leaked almost two weeks ahead of its May 19 launch after a 155GB update surfaced on SteamDB – the backend database tracker that logs Steam infrastructure changes in real time, making it one of the more reliable early signals in the business. According to posts circulating on Reddit, the preload files were accessible and playable as of May 10, a full five days before even Premium Edition buyers were supposed to get their hands on the game via early access.
The size of the update alone is striking – 155GB is a substantial footprint for a racing title – but what’s arguably more damaging here is that the leaked build reportedly runs fully in offline mode, meaning players can access core campaign content rather than hitting an always-online wall. Compounding matters, Microsoft and Playground Games have so far issued no public statement acknowledging the incident. The leak also arrived without Denuvo anti-tamper protection in place – an absence that made the Steam DRM relatively trivial to bypass, reportedly cracked within hours of the files surfacing – and it wasn’t an isolated incident either, with Directive 8020 leaking via the same mechanism on the same day, suggesting a broader platform-level failure rather than anything specific to this title. Steam’s infrastructure reach is enormous, which makes its preload vulnerabilities all the more consequential when they surface.
Forza Horizon 6 is confirmed for Game Pass day one on May 19, so the leak’s practical impact on the wider playerbase may be limited – but for Microsoft, this is a messy situation at exactly the wrong moment, particularly as Xbox continues to work on rebuilding its brand identity under new leadership. Watch for whether Microsoft moves to disable offline functionality as damage control, though that risks penalising legitimate buyers who have done nothing wrong.
Did the leak affect your plans for Forza Horizon 6, or are you waiting for the official launch? Sound off in the comments below, and keep your eyes on GameLuster for more breaking gaming news and Forza Horizon 6 coverage.
