Forza Horizon 6 early access release is a huge hit and could change how games are sold

Forza Horizon 6 launched early via its Premium Edition and quickly drew at least 1.5 million players.

Steam peaked at over 180,000 concurrent users, signaling unusually strong demand for the game’s premium launch window.

The result could validate Microsoft’s monetization strategy, where early access and premium upgrades help drive revenue.

If the model keeps working, other publishers may copy this release-and-pricing approach.