new forza and gran turismo games were teased during last year's e3 gaming showcase, but the next generation of racing games has officially begun with forza horizon 5. the latest installation of the open world racing franchise boasts absurd graphics, massive scale, and, most important, a concrete release date.
the game is set in mexico, and the focus is on environmental diversity. gameplay briefly shown during micorsoft's e3 presentation showed vast deserts, thick jungles, and an active volcano that the developers claim is the highest point of a horizon game to date, but those are just the extremes of a map described during the presentation as the largest and most diverse in series history.
the gameplay trailer shows new features, including a new exploration-first campaign mode and an expanded arcade gameplay option that introduces new, mario kart–like mini games. the footage also focuses in on the immense detail of the world, from uniquely-crafted rocks to a recreation of a real mexican sky captured in 12k resolution. this new level of graphical intensity is a unique strength, made possible by a powerful new generation of consoles that released last year.
although mexico offers a more temperate climate than england, the setting of forza horizon 4, that game's signature seasonal cycle feature will continue over to horizon 5. dynamic seasons will reset weekly, and the studio promises that "no two seasons will ever be the same."
forza horizon 5 is a console exclusive on both xbox series x and xbox series s. it debuts on november 9.
from: road & track