Forza Horizon 6 Won’t Let Players Smash Important Cultural Elements of Japan

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In response to criticism about how sacred sites were portrayed in other games, Forza Horizon 6 has made certain culturally important trees and structures in Japan unbreakable within the game. This change aims to avoid disrespecting Japanese culture, a concern that arose with similar depictions in other major titles set in Japan.

A recent example of this issue is the reaction to the game Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Although the game sold well, Ubisoft quickly received criticism because players could damage important religious items within shrines. Some Japanese officials also voiced their concerns, prompting the developers to apologize and change the game so these cultural artifacts could no longer be destroyed.

Forza Horizon 6 Has Picked Respect over Realism

In Forza Horizon 6, players can destroy most trees, but cherry blossom trees are protected. While some might expect the series’ realistic feel to extend to letting players crash through everything, the game’s design director, Torben Ellert, explained the team deliberately chose to preserve these trees. They aimed for a balance between realism and fun, creating a “simcade” experience where not everything needs to be perfectly simulated.

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To protect important cultural sites, players can’t drive through temples or other places of cultural significance.

In a conversation with The Japan Times, Ellert explained that the game avoids including certain temples and cultural sites to prevent players from driving through places that are sacred or historically significant. This attention to detail in Forza Horizon 6 is largely thanks to cultural consultant Kyoko Yamashita, who helped the game developers at Playground Games understand Japanese culture and values. Her guidance likely led to the decision to preserve these important locations within the game world.

Why Forza Horizon 6 Is Especially Careful with Trees

The reason trees are treated specially in the game comes from traditional Japanese beliefs. Researchers Glenn Moore and Cassandra Atherton explain that in the past, certain trees were identified with a sacred rope, called a shimenawa, as a warning – cutting them down was believed to invoke the wrath of spirits. While Forza Horizon 6‘s Japan-inspired map doesn’t feature these warnings or spirits, it does ensure players can’t damage the trees, respecting this cultural reverence.

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Fans don’t seem upset about the design choices in Forza Horizon 6. In fact, some players like that the game includes thick forests where you can crash through most trees and objects. Previous Forza Horizon games often frustrated players by stopping them suddenly when hitting trees or obstacles. This time, the developers at Playground Games have made most plants and objects breakable, which seems to have made the decision to protect certain trees – like the cherry blossoms – feel more balanced.

Currently, and based on feedback from the early access period, most reviews for Forza Horizon 6 are positive. On Steam, the game has over 12,000 user reviews, and more than 70% of players recommend it. While there have been some complaints, they mostly center around technical problems like performance and crashes, rather than issues with the game’s content or setting.

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2026-05-16 15:39