Forza Horizon 5 Celebrates the Horizon 10-Year Anniversary

Available to download on Tuesday, October 11 across Xbox consoles, Windows PCs and Steam, the Horizon 10-Year Anniversary Update includes an all-new Horizon Origins Story, the returning Midnight Battles game mode where you can score rare cars by winning intense head-to-head races, and fan-favorite festival music coming to your radio dial on Horizon Mixtape.

October 11 only marks the start of these festivities however, as a four-week anniversary themed Festival Playlist follows from October 13 with the opportunity to unlock iconic cars from past Horizon games, new cosmetics for your character and additional Horizon Mixtape songs.

For those who have yet to jump into Forza Horizon, there has never been a better time to experience the world’s greatest automotive festival. Starting October 11 on the Microsoft Store – and from October 13 on Steam – save up to 67% on Forza Horizon 4 and up to 30% on Forza Horizon 5. These discounts will be available through October 24.

There’s a lot to cover in this forthcoming Forza Horizon 5 update, so let’s dive in!

Game Fixes & Release Notes

Every month, Forza Horizon 5 receives new game fixes and quality-of-life improvements as part of its series updates, and the Horizon 10-Year Anniversary update is no different.

Here’s a look at some of the most notable changes that you can look forward to:

• We’ve fixed an issue with EventLab props disappearing after publishing Blueprints with a high-prop count. Creators will need to edit and republish those Blueprints to ensure the number of props is in line with the budget limitation displayed on-screen, which is now functioning as intended.

• We’re making improvements to how the Club Tag is surfaced for players, so it more reliably shows in-game beside their Gamertag. This change only affects players who are present in a Club.

• We’ve calmed the intense camera shake that could occur while driving since the release of the Series 10 Update.

• Forza Horizon 5: Hot Wheels has received physics improvements for certain cars that could detach from the magnet at high-speed.

• ASL and BSL cinematics have been added to the Hot Wheels Horizon Story.

• We’ve fixed an issue with force-feedback load sensitivity that caused the steering wheel to pull to the right.

• Compatibility has been added for the Logitech G Pro Steering Wheel.

• An issue where there was little to no sound for cars introduced in the Horizon Road Trip update for some players has been fixed.

• On PC, we’ve fixed incorrect instances of the “Drivers are wrong” error message being displayed. Also, terrain deformation should now work as intended for AMD GPU users.

• An issue that caused black pixels to appear on-screen for players with TAA enabled has been fixed.

As always, the full list of fixes and improvements will be shared in our release notes once the update is available to download next week. We’re listening closely to your Forza Horizon 5 feedback as new fixes are introduced in each series update. Here’s where you can stay up to date on the issues that we’re currently investigating.

Horizon Origins

Take a trip down memory lane with Bass Arena disc jockey Scott Tyler in Horizon Origins, the newest Horizon Story in Forza Horizon 5 that celebrates the history of the Forza Horizon series.

Across five chapters, relive some of the series’ most iconic gameplay moments starting with Forza Horizon 5 as you go back in time. Complete all chapters and you’ll unlock the 2013 Dodge SRT Viper GTS Anniversary Edition, a unique variant that pays homage to the original Forza Horizon cover car.

2013 Dodge SRT Viper GTS Anniversary Edition

As the first Forza Horizon cover car, it only felt fitting to introduce this exclusive new variant to celebrate the game’s 10-Year Anniversary. At the heart of this road-devouring snake is a totally refined all-aluminum, mid-engine, 8.4-liter V10 delivering a class-topping 640 horsepower and 600 lb-ft of torque. It’s utterly contemporary in its design, and the 2013 Viper’s gorgeous lines are at once sophisticated and hostile—form and function meeting in a sweet spot of automotive aggression. In short, the 2013 Viper’s stunning design will turn heads and its powerful performance will make sure those heads turn very, very quickly.

Midnight Battles

Mexico’s Street Scene is about to evolve as the adrenaline-fueled Midnight Battles mode is coming to Forza Horizon 5. First originated in Australia, these head-to-head races will reward the competitor’s car to the player if they successfully win.

A new Midnight Battle is unlocked for every four victories you have in the Street Scene following the release of the Horizon 10-Year Anniversary update – a total of 16 race wins are required to unlock them all.

If you’d like to break some world records, all Midnight Battle routes will also be available in the Rivals section for you to set your best lap times on.

Four hard-to-find cars are up for grabs, including:

1971 Ford Mustang Mach 1

To understand the Mustang Mach 1, you must understand era that produced it. Car development cycles start several years before the car hits dealerships, and the late 1960s saw the flourishing of ever-larger, more powerful muscle cars that overshadowed the pony car segment the Mustang invented. Solution: a larger, more powerful, more stylish Mustang. More wedge-shaped and angular, it was certainly aggressive. The Mach 1 was the most aggressive of them all, with a blacked-out honeycomb grille, bold contrasting graphics, and the requisite scoops and ducts. Unusually for the 1970s, the Mach 1 features a body-colored front bumper for an integrated look—a design feature that would soon become commonplace. Mach 1s came in many engine flavors, but this Mach 1 sports the most incredible of them all—the 429 CJ-R (Cobra Jet with ram-air). The dual NACA-style hoodscoops are quite functional, channeling cold oxygen-rich air to the hungry engine. The result is a 375-horsepower dragstrip monster, perfect for ruining rear tires. It also handled a lot better than the previous generation Boss 429, designed from the outset to handle such a massive engine and therefore equipped with more appropriate suspension. In the waning days of the muscle car era, the Mustang had finally matured.

1984 Honda Civic CRX Mugen

The partnership between Honda and Mugen began with the CRX. It was an inevitable collaboration given that Mugen was formed by Hirotoshi Honda – the son of Honda founder Soichiro Honda – and veteran racer Masao Kimura. The CRX, or CR-X as it is called in Japan, carried an aggressive effort to establish Mugen in the United States. At the time, any Honda dealer could order and sell Mugen parts, and a select few became Mugen Performance Centers. The program only lasted three years but yielded a handful of uprated Mugen CRXs and many street-tuned Hondas. Dressed in the Mugen body kit, the CRX’s short, stout lines are tastefully enhanced without complicating them. A trademark feature of the Mugen CRX is the twin-pipe muffler or “Silencer Set.” With nearly 120 horsepower, a limited slip differential, and weighing in at a mere 1,800 pounds, the Mugen CRX is a thrill to drive and inspired a new generation of Honda tuners. Mugen has gone on to contribute to Honda’s racing success in Formula One and sports car racing, but it all started here with the CRX.

2003 Toyota Celica SS-I

Powered by a 1.8-litre 2ZZ-GE engine, which significantly reduced the weight of the vehicle when compared to its predecessor, the 2003 Toyota Celica SS-I is the seventh and final model generation of the Celica line produced from 1999 to 2006. Unique in contrast to its previous renditions, the SS-I was only made available in front-wheel-drive across all trim levels. The hatchback sport coupé can produce 187 horses at 133 lb-ft of torque and gave drivers a choice of either a five or six-speed manual transmission. The car’s iconic shape is characterized by a long wheelbase and a short overhang, as well as vertically slit headlamps, a dynamic side view, and the poised rear styling. Now is your chance to relive this iconic Japanese compact car, but you’ll need to master the Horizon Street Scene before it’s yours! Are you ready for the challenge ahead?

2010 Lamborghini Murciélago LP 670-4 SV

Win 16 race events in the Horizon Street Scene, then win the fourth Midnight Battle.

The Murciélago LP 670-4 SV may be a mouthful, but consider it shorthand for one of the fastest Raging Bulls ever to roar out of Lamborghini’s Sant’Agata plant. Fitting, because the “SV” tag stands for SuperVeloce—Italian for “superfast,” and Lamborghini only uses the SV name for the most highly-tuned final edition of a model going out of production. The SV modifications for the Murciélago certainly fit the bill, managing 661 horsepower (the “670” in the name is the metric horsepower rating) from the latest generation of the 40-year-old Lamborghini V12. Of course, nearly every part of the engine has been updated and optimized over its lifespan, which should be apparent as it warbles by at full throttle. In addition, the SV was put on a diet of carbon-fiber, trimming 220 pounds, and adding spoilers and side scoops crafted from bare carbon-fiber. The Murciélago was already a stunner, and the LP 670-4 SV is a fitting send-off to one of the most ferocious supercars to ever wear the bull of Sant’Agata.

Horizon Mixtape

Great music is at the heart of the Horizon Festival. No road-trip is complete without an iconic playlist, and the Forza Horizon games have always offered a curated selection of unforgettable songs across its diverse line-up of radio stations to enrich your driving adventures.

To celebrate 10 years of driving to incredible music, Forza Horizon 5’s radio dial is set to receive a new permanent station. Hosted by Bass Arena disc jockey Scott Tyler, the Horizon Mixtape brings together some of the greatest music featured in the Forza Horizon series over the years.

Unlock new songs for the Horizon Mixtape by completing Accolades as part of the Horizon Origins Story and expand your playlist with the iconic music that featured in previous Horizon start screens by winning the relevant Seasonal Championships on the Festival Playlist.

EventLab Prop Pack

EventLab is expanding its Blueprint Builder Library with 97 recognizable props and structures from previous Forza Horizon games. These are divided into four subcategories: Colorado, Europe, Australia and UK.

Some of the highlights include Horizon Festival entrance arches and decorations, barn finds, a variety of pipes, the iconic yacht from Forza Horizon 2, and skyscrapers from Forza Horizon 3’s Surfers Paradise – and yes, you can drive on top of them! In addition, look out for new steel works and conveyor belts with snapping functionality.

Festival Playlist

The Festival Playlist in Forza Horizon 5 celebrates 10 years of the Horizon Festival with a classic Horizon game in the spotlight each week as well as tailored activities and rewards.

While you check out the latest events, listen out for a familiar voice as Horizon Bass Arena DJ Scott Tyler is on standby to announce what’s happening on the Festival Playlist.

You’ll also be able to launch into the first chapter of the Horizon Origins Story directly from the Festival Playlist. This is the Series Intro of the Horizon 10-Year Anniversary, and upon its completion, you’ll unlock access to the rest of the Horizon Story.

New cosmetics that celebrate the history of Forza Horizon games are coming to the Festival Playlist, including a selection of anniversary themed clothing items, emotes and car horns:

Clothing:

• Horizon Colorado Tee
• Horizon Europe Tee
• Horizon Australia Tee
• Horizon UK Tee
• Honda Hoodie

Emotes:

• What's Inside
• Take Off
• Ring Ring
• Karaoke

Car Horns:

• Horizon México Intro
• Horizon México Theme
• Fred V Grafix
• Colorado Cover Car
• Europe Cover Car
• Australia Cover Car
• UK Cover Car
• Legacy Rewind

Honda Civic Type R Seasonal Championship

Get behind the wheel of a Honda Civic Type R and compete to win the Honda Hoodie during the Autumn “Storm” Season. The Honda Civic Type R Seasonal Championship will be available in the Festival Playlist from October 20-27, so get ready to show off your racing skills!

And don’t forget to check out the Honda Fan Cup Forza Horizon 5 tournament with Xbox Game Pass for your chance to win part of the $10,000 prize pool. You can learn more on how to participate here.

Evolving World

Forza Horizon 5’s Mexico is redressing for the Horizon 10-Year Anniversary. Each week, a new Festival site will be temporarily setup in Mexico in celebration of the past Festivals.

In the Summer “Wet” season, reminisce the origin days of the Horizon Festival in Colorado as we celebrate the original Forza Horizon with a new festival site in the Copper Canyon. In the Autumn “Storm” season, reflect on the days of cross-country racing through Europe’s vineyards in Forza Horizon 2 with an associated outpost west of the city of Guanajuato.

The Winter “Dry” season is all about the land down under as we relive the days of driving through the Outback in Forza Horizon 3’s Australia with a desert festival setup south of Dunas Blancas. Last, but certainly not least, we look back on countryside roads of beautiful, historic Britain as we celebrate Forza Horizon 4 with an appropriately themed outpost south of the Horizon Stadium.

Over the next four weeks, festival races at Horizon Mexico are also involved in these anniversary celebrations, as classic flags, gantries, displays and towers recreate the vibes and essence of our past Horizon Festivals.

Plus, be on the lookout for new Collectibles in the form of Bonus Boards. Each week, these iconic “smashables” can be found around the temporary Festival sites mentioned above and are a fun throwback to the Bonus Boards of previous Horizon games.

Available throughout the Horizon 10-Year Anniversary, we’ve reenabled the temporary PR Stunts that were setup in Mexico for the Lunar New Year, Horizon Rush Takeover and Rami’s Racing History. Find them and set your best scores!

Car Rewards

We’re bringing back iconic cars that featured in the original Forza Horizon game as seasonal rewards on the upcoming Festival Playlist. Here’s a look at the cars you can look forward to driving once more:

2010 Ferrari 599XX

It’s incredibly fast, unimaginably expensive, and you can’t put one in your garage—literally. That’s because, like all “XX” cars, Scuderia Ferrari holds onto the car for owners, maintaining and storing them, so all that owners have to do is show up at the track, strap in (very tightly, for their sake), and let the 599XX loose. While based on the 599 GTB Fiorano, there have been so many changes to bring it to XX specification that it’s impossible to list them all. For example, except the roof, every other body panel has been altered to help with aerodynamics or allow more cooling air to the brakes or engine. Speaking of the engine, meticulously precise construction and an exhaust system that doesn’t have to consider road-going requirements allow the 6-liter V12 to produce 108 more horsepower than its GTB stablemate, allowing the 599XX to accelerate to 100mph in less than 6 seconds. For the steep entry price and ownership limitations, one thing you don’t get is taillights—those were deleted in favor of exhaust outlets for the active fans that suck air out from under the car below 155 mph. Over that speed, the additional downforce isn’t needed.

2011 Koenigsegg Agera

The Bugatti Veyron may be (slightly) faster, but the Agera is among the most interesting of the early 2010s breed of hypercar. It certainly has the requisite manic power numbers, courtesy of a 940 horsepower, twin-turbo, 5-liter V8. With a top speed of greater than 260mph and a sub-three-second 0-60mph time, no one can deny its performance. But Christian von Koenigsegg’s genius is in making his cars boldly distinctive, and while the CCX and its derivatives are definitely that, the Agera is a further evolution of the theme. From every angle the new composite body (draped over a variant of the CCX’s incredibly stiff chassis) is fascinating, and it also provides improved downforce. For example, those halo-shaped taillights surround heat-extracting vents to help cool the engine. And the wheels are specially designed as vortex generators, cooling the brakes and increasing downforce. Of course, it wouldn’t be a Koenigsegg without some special details, like the wraparound windshield, distinctive cockpit, and the ghost on the engine cover. Ghost? Yes, it’s a tribute to a Swedish air force squadron that previously occupied Koenigsegg’s Ängelholm facility and used the ghost as its emblem.

2012 Eagle Speedster

The bumper-to-bumper beauty that is the Eagle Speedster will have you gasping for breath and racing to victory in Forza Horizon 5. If the chopped windscreen, classic Jaguar E-type lines, and low-slung cockpit doesn’t fire your synapses into a frenzy then you have probably flat-lined. The Eagle Speedster is a vintage ride with all the technology of today.

2010 Aston Martin One-77

It only takes a glance at the One-77 to see that each curve, crease, and air intake has been carefully crafted. Aston boss Ulrich Bez felt that the company needed a car that was completely unrestricted by convention, and so they unleashed the One-77 to show what is possible when no expense is spared. Pop the hand-formed aluminum hood and the investment is obvious, as the vivacious 7.3-liter V12, draped with handcrafted, polished aluminum and bare carbon fiber monocoque, is a work of art. Fire it up and few cars can match the burbling howl of 750 hand-crafted British ponies – it’s no wonder it even exceeded Aston-Martin’s top speed expectations. It’s sculpture sitting still, but don’t park it in a museum; to show off the beauty and purpose of this special Aston, try firing up Photo Mode to set up a shot of the One-77 linking apexes against the backdrop of Mexico’s Gran Caldera.

New ADV.1 Car Rims

Customize the rides featured in the Horizon 10-Year Anniversary, as well as all the cars in your collection, from a selection of 22 new ADV.1 rims:

• ADV.1 ADV05 M.V2 Standard
• ADV.1 ADV05R M.V2 CS
• ADV.1 ADV05RM M.V2 CS
• ADV.1 ADV05S M.V2 Standard
• ADV.1 ADV06R M.V2 CS
• ADV.1 ADV06RM M.V2 CS
• ADV.1 ADV07R M.V2 CS
• ADV.1 ADV10 Track Spec Advanced
• ADV.1 ADV10R Track Spec CS
• ADV.1 ADV5 M.V2 Advanced
• ADV.1 ADV5.2 M.V2 Advanced
• ADV.1 ADV5.3 Track Spec CS
• ADV.1 ADV5S Track Spec CS
• ADV.1 ADV6 M.V2 SL
• ADV.1 ADV6 M.V2 Standard
• ADV.1 ADV6.2 M.V1 SL
• ADV.1 ADV7 M.V1 Standard
• ADV.1 ADV7 M.V2 CS
• ADV.1 ADV7.2 CF.2
• ADV.1 ADV7R Track Spec CS
• ADV.1 ADV8 M.V1 SL
• ADV.1 ADV8R Track Spec CS

You can change your vehicle’s rim and access other customization options in the Tuning & Upgrades menu at any Horizon Festival Outpost or Player House.

New Profile Badges

Customize your Forza Horizon 5 profile with new Badges available to unlock during the Horizon 10-Year Anniversary. These show up beside your Gamertag in races and leaderboards, and include:

New Achievements

New opportunities to increase your Gamerscore in Forza Horizon 5 are coming alongside the Horizon 10-Year Anniversary update. Here’s a look at the eight new achievements for both Xbox and Steam:

New Accolades

A total of 28 new Accolades are coming to Forza Horizon 5 as part of the Horizon 10-Year Anniversary. Complete them to unlock Accolade Points, new cars, Horizon Mixtape songs and a fresh car horn.

Here’s the full list of new Accolades:

What’s Next

It’s fair to say the Horizon 10-Year Anniversary update is absolutely packed with new driving experiences and rewards to discover in Forza Horizon 5. Before we wrap up this bumper edition Forza.net blog, we’ll leave you with a tease of what’s to come in the next update as we usually do… it involves donuts. That’s all we’re saying for now – whether it’s the tasty or drifting kind, you’ll have to tune back in next month for the official details! Until then, we’ll see you at the festival.