Forza Horizon 6 maker Playground Games to players accessing leaked version of game: We are taking strict action

Playground Games has issued a warning to players accessing a leaked build of Forza Horizon 6 ahead of its official release, stating that enforcement action is being taken against those involved. In a statement shared on social media, the studio said: “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. 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.”The clarification comes after speculation that the leak was caused by a Steam preload issue. SteamDB also addressed the situation, stating: “Forza Horizon 6 was very likely leaked by someone with early access to the build (reviewer or similar). At around the same time, the file list appeared on SteamDB because someone (could be someone else) used our token dumper. SteamDB does not display or share keys, nor can it provide downloads.”Earlier reports suggested that unencrypted files had appeared on the game’s Steam listing, allowing users to access and distribute the build before launch. However, the updated statements indicate that the leak likely originated from an early-access copy rather than a distribution error.Despite the ongoing investigation into the source of the leak, players who have accessed the build are already facing consequences. Screenshots circulating online show users receiving in-game messages indicating bans extending for extended durations.Microsoft, which publishes the Forza franchise, has previously taken similar steps in cases involving piracy and unauthorised access. Past actions have included bans for modified consoles and early access to unreleased content.The game will launch on May 19 with an early access release before the full launch. Instead of playing the leaked version, Playground Games has asked players to wait for the official release.It raises the ongoing issues surrounding early access builds and content security, especially in the case of big game releases, where unauthorised distribution can occur before the game even reaches the shelf.