Xbox Tokyo Game Show 2025 Delivers Forza Horizon 6 Japan Reveal + Big Game Pass and First-Party Launches
Xbox made a strong statement today at Tokyo Game Show 2025 with its dedicated broadcast, delivering a packed slate of game reveals, updates, and region-focused content for Japanese and global audiences alike. The standout moment? The official confirmation that Forza Horizon 6 will take place in Japan in 2026. But that was just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. With new expansions, remakes, partnerships with Asian studios, and Game Pass integration front and center, Xbox’s TGS showcase aimed to deepen its foothold in Japan while appealing to its global fanbase.
Tokyo Game Show (TGS) has long been a marquee event for Japanese publishers and global players alike. It is a stage where Western and Eastern gaming cultures collide, and for Xbox, which has been traditionally weaker in Japan over the years, this year’s broadcast was a clear signal: Xbox is doubling down on Japan, Asia, and cross-region integration.
Forza Horizon 6: Japan at the Heart of Xbox’s Future
The biggest headline of the stream was undoubtedly Forza Horizon 6. After a bit of an accidental leak before the showcase, Microsoft and Playground Games confirmed the sequel is indeed real, coming in 2026, and will be set in Japan. The announcement dropped via a cinematic teaser full of Easter eggs referencing past entries, then closed by revealing Japanese landscapes, skylines, and ambient cues that suggest a deeply localized take.
After years of fan speculation and subtle leaks, including teaser ads showing Mount Fuji and cherry blossoms just hours before the broadcast, Forza Horizon 6’s Japanese setting feels almost inevitable in retrospect. The move is strategic, because by centering the next Horizon title in Japan, Xbox is signaling that it wants to appeal to Japanese car culture, cityscapes, and aesthetic sensibilities, something fans have long requested.
What the broadcast did not fully reveal, at least yet, is how expansive Forza Horizon 6 will be, whether classic Japanese motors (kei cars, JDM models) get spotlight roles, or how much of the map is urban compared to rural. That said, the teaser did include nods to previous Horizon games, hinting that while this is a new locale, it is still naturally part of the same shared legacy.
Major Highlights from the Xbox Tokyo Game Show 2025 Broadcast
Forza Horizon 6 officially announced, set in Japan and launching in 2026.
Monster Hunter Stories Collection coming to Xbox on November 14, with Stories 3 arriving March 2026.
Gungrave Gore: Blood Heat Remake revealed with updated visuals and combat.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Japan World Update announced, bringing landmarks and cityscapes to the sim.
Beyond Horizon: A Diverse Slate of Announcements
While Forza Horizon 6 was the show’s main pillar, Xbox’s TGS show also featured a bevy of additional reveals and updates across genres and regions. Titles ranged from remakes and expansions to fresh IPs and regional exclusives.
One major highlight was the full remake of Gungrave Gore: Blood Heat, reviving the cult action franchise with modern visuals and expectations of over-the-top combat. In addition, 007: First Light expanded its cast, with Gemma Chan joining the game as Dr. Selina Tan, a move that strengthens Xbox’s relationship with narrative-driven titles and cross-cultural appeal.
Fans of Asia-grown franchises got love too. Monster Hunter Stories 1 and 2 were confirmed coming to Xbox on November 14, with Monster Hunter Stories 3 slated for March 2026. The stream also revealed a Japan World Update for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, delivering richly detailed Japanese cityscapes and landmarks for flight sim enthusiasts.
Other surprises included updates to Ninja Gaiden 4 (new difficulty and training modes were showcased), and expansion news for Age of Mythology: Heavenly Spear, which draws from Japan-inspired design and will be launching soon. In the multiplayer and shooter realm, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 will include Japan-set maps in its pre-order betas.
Unsurprisingly, the show even leaned on indie and Game Pass-friendly titles. Games like Terminull Brigade, Winter Burrow, and the show-closing Forza Horizon 6 will join the Xbox Game Pass catalog. This reinforces Microsoft’s push: not just big reveals, but value via subscription access and wide audience reach.
Strategic Moves: Japan, Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Asia
Xbox’s presence at Tokyo Game Show 2025 is not just about game announcements. It’s a bigger signal of corporate strategy. With Mena Sato Kato recently promoted to head of Xbox Asia, Microsoft is clearly investing in regional leadership to help repair and expand its reputation in Japan. In a market historically dominated by PlayStation and Nintendo, Xbox has struggled for relevance, and these announcements aim to change that narrative.
By centering Forza Horizon 6 in Japan and teasing content from Asian studios or Japan-themed expansions, Xbox is positioning itself not as an outsider but as a platform that respects and celebrates Japanese culture in gaming. The Microsoft Flight Simulator Japan update and Monster Hunter Stories arrival on Xbox only further that message.
Furthermore, Game Pass continues to be a linchpin of Microsoft’s strategy. Having multiple titles announced at TGS join the service day one or shortly thereafter strengthens Xbox’s pitch: pay once, access many games, across both global and Japan-focused titles. It also helps Xbox compete on value, rather than a single-minded focus on exclusivity.
Another hardware angle: ROG Xbox Ally handhelds were mentioned during the broadcast as upcoming devices (October 16 release globally) that will support many of these new titles. However, the broadcast notably once again did not confirm pricing, a point many critics flagged.
Analysis: Why This Matters for Xbox and Xbox Fans
Xbox’s TGS 2025 broadcast marks one of its most ambitious regional pushes to date. The Japan setting for Forza Horizon 6 is more than a novelty. It is a statement that Xbox wants to build experiences that appeal to Japanese gamers by default, not as afterthoughts.
The blend of remakes (Gungrave Gore), expansion content (Flight Simulator Japan, Age of Mythology), and local favorites (Monster Hunter Stories) creates a balanced portfolio that respects both hardcore fans and regional audiences. Meanwhile, integrating these announcements into Game Pass sets a business model tone: big announcements plus wide access equals sustained engagement.
But it was not a perfect showcase. The absence of a confirmed price for the ROG Xbox Ally handheld remains a glaring omission. Handheld gaming is critical in Japan, and Xbox’s hesitancy on that front left some room for doubt. It feels like they will announce the pricing until a few days before the handheld console’s release or will remain silent until it launches with its price tag in tow, possibly to mitigate any negative backlash the price might draw. Doing so, however, will result in a different kind of negative press. Microsoft should just drop the price and accept any criticism, constructive or otherwise.
Still, for longtime Xbox supporters and newcomers alike, this was a narrative moment. It goes to show Xbox is serious about Japan. Whether Forza Horizon 6 fulfills the expectations now set, or whether the next generation of Japanese developers collaborate more with Xbox, remains to be seen. The groundwork is laid, and fans should be watching closely.
Final Thoughts
The Xbox Tokyo Game Show 2025 Broadcast was more than a showcase. It was a declaration. With Forza Horizon 6 confirmed to land in Japan, a slew of strategically chosen remakes and expansions, and heavy Game Pass integration, Xbox is pushing to sit at the same table as Japanese powerhouses. While details like pricing for the handheld were left undetermined, the overall message was loud and clear: Xbox is refocusing its efforts in Asia, Japan, and globally as a cohesive ecosystem. If the momentum from this TGS carries forward into 2026, today may very well be looked back on as a turning point in Xbox’s international strategy.
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