Forza Horizon 6 suffered a major PC leak just days before release after its Steam preload was reportedly uploaded without encryption. The game’s files spread online, and Playground Games responded by saying the build was obtained before release and that it would enforce bans against people accessing it early.

Key details

• The leak was first reported on May 10–11, 2026, ahead of early access on May 15 and full release on May 19.
• Reports say the exposed preload was about 155GB and contained the full PC build.
• The leading explanation is that an encrypted preload was uploaded incorrectly or decrypted too early on Steam’s backend, allowing the files to be pulled and cracked.
• The game then appeared on piracy sites, with screenshots and gameplay clips spreading online shortly after.
• Playground Games said the leak was not the result of a normal pre-load issue and warned that anyone accessing the build could face franchise-wide and hardware bans.
• Despite the leak, the launch schedule has not changed in the verified reporting: early access is still set for May 15 and the full release for May 19.

Why it matters

• This is a significant pre-launch security failure for one of Xbox’s biggest 2026 releases.
• It can create spoiler risk, hurt day-one sales on PC, and complicate Microsoft’s launch plans.
• It also shows how vulnerable preloads can be when encryption or upload handling goes wrong.