Forza Horizon 6 Makes Cherry Blossom Trees Indestructible as Developers Seek Cultural Respect
Updated
Updated · Kotaku · May 15
Forza Horizon 6 Makes Cherry Blossom Trees Indestructible as Developers Seek Cultural Respect
5 articles · Updated · Kotaku · May 15
Forza Horizon 6’s cherry blossom trees cannot be destroyed, a deliberate exception in an open world where most signs, bushes, fences and trees are smashable.
Design director Torben Ellert said Playground Games kept the trees intact because they are an iconic part of Japanese culture and also left out some temples and shrines to discourage players from driving through sensitive sites.
The choice reflects the studio’s effort to make its Japan setting feel authentic while avoiding cultural offense in a game built around off-road freedom and environmental destruction.
Ubisoft faced a similar backlash in 2025 over breakable shrine props in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, prompting a day-one patch after criticism that reached Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.
Will Forza’s cultural reverence set a restrictive new standard for all open-world games?
Is Forza's unbreakable Japan a sign of genuine respect or a calculated move to avoid controversy?