Forza Horizon 5 gameplay trailer: 10 things learned

Two new Forza Horizon 5 gameplay trailers have been released. Here 10 juicy details while you watch how the game looks in 4K polygon bliss.

With two new Forza Horizon 5 gameplay trailers released to the world, it is clear the Microsoft PR machine is getting into top gear as we approach the release date in early November 2021. On all Xbox consoles and PC, before you ask.

Both Forza Horizon 5 gameplay trailers were released during Gamescom 2021 as well as something else exciting to do with the latest title from Playground Games. I will get to that later.

So let’s not waste time. Here is what A Tribe Called Cars has learned about Forza Horizon 5 from everything we have seen so far. Delivered to you, with a cup of tea, two shortbread biscuits and at 4K 60 frames per second. Crank up the detail, get comfy and get subscribed.

You could also check out the complete Forza Horizon 5 car list for an idea of what you will get to drive.

Forza Horizon 5 gameplay: Barn finds are back

Probably the best thing about Forza Horizon 4 were the barn finds. You could cruise around the map, narrow down where the barn was and then open it up like a giant Christmas present. Except instead of socks you got a cool vehicle you could sell or drive or modify or whatever.

Now, very little has been said by the developer about Forza Horizon 5 barn finds. But we do know they will be in the game and so, once again, you can cruise around looking for exotic machinery left to rust. One find will be the original VW Beetle. Just don’t forget your feather duster.

Driving modes introduced

Yes, for the first time in a Forza Horizon game you will get driving modes for certain cars. In the case of the AMG Project One, you can initiate ‘Performance Mode’. This is done by pressing the right joystick – a little icon indicates you can in the bottom right corner.

Why bother? Because these driving modes in many modern cars improve performance by lowering the centre of gravity, reducing aerodynamic drag, increasing downforce, making gear changes more aggressive and a whole lot more.

So if you remember my previous Forza Horizon 5 video with the AMG Project One looking a bit like a Transformer, well that is what happens in game for real. Hopefully we will see a lot of other cars make use of the new Forza Horizon 5 driving modes.

Cover cars confirmed

Anti-climactic given that we had seen these cars before or awesome news? You decide. Either way, the Ford Bronco and AMG Project One are the Forza Horizon 5 cover car stars. Not a bad two-car garage if you ask me.

The former, Mr Bronco, being a modern interpretation of the cool off-roading machine while the latter, a hypercar, brings F1 technology to the road. More than ever before, anyway. Let’s not disregard the likes of the McLaren F1.

With 986bhp from a 1.6-litre turbocharged V6 and four electric motors plus a rev limit of 11,000rpm (4,000rpm shy of a real F1 car), maybe this is the thing to finally upset the mighty Ferrari 599XX Evo.

Other cars we know include Ken Block’s V2 Ford Escort Hoonigan, the Ariel Nomad from Somerset, Dodge Viper ACR, Ford GT, Hennessey VelociRaptor 6×6, Ford F450 Dually, Ferrari 488 Pista, Honda S2000, Koenigsegg Jesko, McLaren Speedtail and Hyundai Veloster N to name a few.

Events Lab replaces Blueprints

Another notable feature in Forza Horizon 5 is that the custom races and Blueprints of Forza Horizon 4 have been replaced by the Events Lab. These were the races made by players for the community to enjoy.

The Events Lab is interesting because you can place props such a jumps or obstacles along the way, increasing the potential stupidity and/or challenge of your custom races.

You can even create custom game modes with custom rules using ‘If’ and ‘Then’ programming speak. So, for example, if I jump a certain distance then I get a certain number of points.

I think a custom game mode like Speed the movie, where if you drop below 60mph then it is game over, would be bags of fun. Especially in an area where you have lots of tight corners and you are not in a particularly fast car.

Limited edition controller

And next we have news of the Forza Horizon 5 limited edition controller, which does not hold back on colour. To be honest I think it looks cool – just a shame it’s not a steering wheel, but then Forza’s more arcadey handling was never the best fit.

Now I have no idea of the price at the moment, but I can tell you that the controller comes with unique DLC comprised character customisation items and a 1932 Ford De Luxe Forza Edition. Apparently there will be no other way to get this car – not even if you try to buy one at auction.

Detail aplenty

Rear-wheel steering is not especially common in cars. I tried it in the Lexus LC500 and the Porsche Taycan has it too. For those who like detail, as you can see from the video, Forza Horizon 5 has included it.

You will also notice that the Porsche Taycan has two gears, which is unusual for a production battery electric vehicle. The Teslas use just one gear. But Porsche wanted more than one for improvements to performance so Forza Horizon 5 is even more accurate.

Career mode changes

So what about the Forza Horizon 5 career mode? Well, things have changed a bit since Forza Horizon 4. You now play as the Horizon Festival boss, who has been given the job of rebuilding said festival in Mexico across six different locations.

Basically, you can pick and choose what goes on. Whether that’s wearing a purple smoking jacket and enjoying a big cigar or racing whatever car you want at whichever race. No doubt there will also be some structure to drip-feed progress.

As for those ridiculous and lovable Showcase missions where you get to race a train or plane, as in Forza Horizon 4, there are five of them in Forza Horizon 5.

One involves trying to outrun a cargo plane, while another is all about the aforementioned V2 Hoonigan Ford Escort. No word on the other three as yet, but I think we can safely rule out a mission where you get to reverse park at IKEA.

Takes place in Mexico

This was already known, but the gameplay during this video shows more of the Caldera Volcano you see as the new Ford Bronco is paradropped from a cargo plane. Then the Forza Horizon 5 gameplay transitions to snow and we start to see more and more temperate conditions.

We are also treated to more of the lush jungle stuff. Lush as in luscious, not the Bristolian lush, which means great. And then one of the longest drag strips ever – long enough, dare I say it, for that ridiculous airplane scene in the Fast & Furious 6 movie.

We then see some road action with the AMG Project One blitzing along and it has been confirmed that there are two kilometres of underground tunnels to sneak around in. Given that Mexico is famous for its cenotes and underground rivers, this could be interesting.

The visuals are phenomenal

And now we come to the visuals. If you own a fancy Xbox Series console, you can expect 4K 60 frames per second gameplay if your TV or monitor can manage it. Or whatever screen you use, given that cloud gaming is becoming more of a thing.

Although ray tracing, alright Ray Tracing, is only reserved for some areas of the game and not driving, the level of detail and how smoothly the scenery passes by is impressive. Forza Horizon 4 was probably the prettiest racing game and Forza Horizon 5 appears to continue the tradition.

From dense foliage to epic skies and immense dust storms that kill your view, Mexico appears to be getting the visuals it deserves. One thing I have noticed is that it appears we will be getting as much geographic variety as we had in the UK setting.

Forza Horizon 5 release date

And lastly, when is the Forza Horizon 5 release date? Well, the Premium edition launches on the 5th of November 2021, while the Standard and Deluxe versions arrive four days later on the 9th of November.

It will be possible to buy it on PC and Xbox as a digital copy, a physical one or you can simply play it on Game Pass for free. It will even be possible to pre-install it before the launch so no waiting around for a download while other people tell you how good it is. Or not.

And that final point is the question I reckon most of us want to know: How good will Forza Horizon 5 be? Will it offer enough new stuff to elevate it away from familiarity and repetition? Because many of us really did sink a lot of hours into Forza Horizon 4.

Or will it stick to its guns and remain one of the most compelling racing games for petrolheads and adrenaline junkies? Hopefully I can get myself a copy early to find out.