Xbox used its Gamescom 2021 panel to reveal an opening gameplay sequence for Forza Horizon 5, showing the first races and putting the two cover cars—the Mercedes‑AMG ONE and the 2021 Ford Bronco Badlands—front and center.
Opening race spans Mexico’s diverse landscapes
The trailer opens with the Ford Bronco Badlands launched from a cargo plane, landing near the summit of the Gran Caldera volcano. From that snowy peak players can quickly descend toward the Baja California desert, illustrating the game’s vertical range.
Scenes then cut to a 2020 Corvette Stingray tearing across asphalt toward a dust storm in a rural region, followed by the Porsche 911 Desert Flyer pushing through dense jungle trails. The sequence closes with the Mercedes‑AMG ONE speeding along Mexico’s rocky coastline on the route to the Forza festival.
Designers detail vehicle choices and biomes
Mike Brown, Creative Director for Forza at Playground Games, said the 2021 Ford Bronco Badlands is ideal for the rugged terrain showcased in the opening. He noted the Gran Caldera sequence occurs during winter, leaving the volcano’s summit snow‑covered while allowing a rapid drop down to desert environments.
Brown also explained that while the Mercedes‑AMG ONE brings Formula 1‑derived technology to a street car, it is not optimized for off‑road racing. The game’s simulation‑based system makes some vehicles better suited for tarmac and others for uneven terrain, though players are free to attempt any combination.
Dynamic weather and audio enhancements
Storms can appear as special weather events during races or as spontaneous occurrences while exploring the map. Brown described these climate events as elements that may affect both planned race scenarios and free‑roam sessions depending on conditions.
Playground Games is also investing heavily in the game’s sound design. Fraser Strachan, lead audio designer, said the team is applying ray tracing to audio as well as visuals. By “sending rays” the system detects walls, buildings and ceilings to render how cars sound differently based on the surrounding environment.
Scale and technical challenge
According to Brown, Forza Horizon 5 is the largest entry in the franchise to date, incorporating eleven distinct biomes. That scope presents a design challenge: each biome must blend naturally into adjacent areas so players don’t feel they crossed an artificial boundary while traveling the map.
Release information
Forza Horizon 5 is scheduled for release on November 9 for PC, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S.
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