Forza Horizon 5: everything new from Gamescom and Let's Go

Forza Horizon 5 is on its way soon. The developers Playground Games keep coming with the details and reveals ahead of the release. Here's everything new we learned in the latest streams:

Forza Horizon 5 limited edition Xbox controller

The Horizon 5 team have created a unique Xbox controller. It brings the vibrancy of Mexico in to your home with bright colours and translucent elements.

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The limited edition Forza Horizon 5 Xbox controller

The controller comes with an unusual bonus. Those who buy one will also get a Ford Coupe Forza Edition car in-game.

Cover cars

We got to see the cars that will grace the cover of Forza Horizon 5. These will be the Ford Bronco Badlands and the Mercedes-AMG ONE.

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The cover art for Forza Horizon 5

In the gameplay footage we saw that players will be able to switch the AMG ONE from track to street mode at the touch of a button. This retracts the rear wing, closes some vents and raises the suspension. It looks like a great new feature!

On the Ford Bronco, there will be four versions of this car in the game at launch. The classic 1975 Bronco, the new 2021 Bronco, a Baja version for more extreme off-roading, and the Badlands variant shown on the cover.

Starting cars

As before, players will start the game with a choice of three cars. For the first time though, the choice is just which car to drive first as all three will be added to your garage!

These cars are the Chevrolet C8 Corvette Stingray, the standard model Ford Bronco 2021, and the Toyota GR Supra.

We also saw footage of new cars to the game. These included the Ford F-450 Super Duty, the Porsche Macan Rally-Raid, the Porsche Taycan Turbo S and the mark 1 Ford Escort rally version.

The Escort is symbolic as it's based on a vehicle once driven on a 16,000 mile rally from England to Mexico.

Showcase events

There are four showcase events in the game. One will be racing against the train through the canyon. We saw the gameplay of another, called On a Wing and a Prayer.

This race started in Teotihuacan with a plane taking off along the Avenue of the Dead. The player races in a Hoonigan Escort Cosworth V2, another new car to the game, firstly against the plane itself and then against motorbikes airdropped into the race.

After a quick blast through Guanajuato, one of the motorbike riders leaps from a precipice and emerges in a wingsuit as you streak towards the finish line. It looks pretty exciting for the first event in the game!

Exploring the world of Forza Horizon 5

We saw a lot of new detail about the rich world of the new game.

The Mexico map will have 562 roads to drive and 56 areas to discover. The four seasons will also be known as the hot, wet, stormy and dry seasons, so that players around the world can understand the unusual climate of Mexico.

We were told there are 2km of tunnels under Guanajuato, which should make for some exciting urban race events. Online Adventure has been renamed Horizon Open and will include a range of online multiplayer activities.

Lastly, to whet our appetite there is a new gift car in Forza Horizon 4! Check your inbox for a VW Golf R in a glorious livery based on the mural art from the new game.