Playground Games Threatens Franchise-Wide Hardware Bans After 155GB Forza Horizon 6 Leak
Updated
Updated · digitalfoundry.net · May 11
Playground Games Threatens Franchise-Wide Hardware Bans After 155GB Forza Horizon 6 Leak
11 articles · Updated · digitalfoundry.net · May 11
Four days before early access, Forza Horizon 6's unencrypted files, a crack and a DLC unlocker appeared online, putting a playable leaked build into circulation ahead of the May 19 public launch.
Playground Games said the leak was not caused by a Steam pre-load mistake and warned that anyone playing the build faces strict enforcement, including franchise-wide hardware-based bans.
The threat targets a leak that could dent Microsoft sales and Game Pass sign-ups, even as early preview footage for the racing game has been broadly positive.
Forza Horizon 6's heavy focus on co-op, competitive play and shared-world features may limit the appeal of the pirated version, which lacks the full intended experience.
After massive leaks for Forza and GTA, is the game industry's digital security model fundamentally broken?
Are permanent hardware bans for playing leaked games a fair punishment or a step too far?