Forza Horizon 6, the open‑world racing title from Playground Games set in Japan, is slated for a global launch on May 19, 2026. This week it became the center of one of the most bizarre security incidents in recent gaming history when a Microsoft employee accidentally uploaded the entire 155 GB build to Steam without the usual pre‑release encryption that keeps files unplayable until launch.
The oversight left the game fully playable for several hours before it was discovered and removed, giving thousands of users ample time to download, extract from Steam, and circulate it across piracy forums. Microsoft and Playground Games reacted swiftly, banning anyone who accessed the leaked build from online servers for an absurd period—until December 31, 9999—effectively locking them out for almost eight millennia.
The leak was not the result of a sophisticated hack but a simple mistake: pre‑launch files are normally encrypted, requiring a decryption key released at launch. By uploading the files unencrypted, the entire finished game—including online multiplayer—became instantly accessible. The fallout was swift; cracked versions appeared on Reddit, piracy sites, and social media before Microsoft could fully contain the spread. With a simultaneous release on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Day‑One Game Pass, the breach was especially damaging given the title’s high anticipation and the massive audience it commands.
This severe penalty is technically a hardware ID (HWID) ban rather than a simple account suspension. It targets the unique identifier embedded in the PC’s motherboard, meaning that reinstalling Windows, creating a new Xbox account, or purchasing a legitimate copy of the game will not lift the restriction. The only viable escape for those affected is to replace the motherboard itself. The first to document these bans, user Pirat_Nation in X, posted screenshots confirming both the duration and the hardware nature of the block before the original threads on the official Forza subreddit were removed by moderators.
Despite the controversy, Forza Horizon 6 remains slated for its official launch on May 19, 2026. Microsoft has yet to issue a formal statement regarding the leak or the bans, but the company’s actions speak volumes. By identifying compromised systems through the game’s own servers, Microsoft has likely caught those who played online, though players who remained offline might have slipped through, yet still face legal risks for downloading unauthorized content.
News Source: Tarreo
forza Horizon 6’s Japan setting looks amazing, but that 9999 ban is wild, guess Microsoft’s serious about launch integrity.
Crazy ban until 9999, guess Microsoft’s serious about protecting Forza Horizon 6’s launch on May 19, 2026.
just got my hands on teh Forza Horizon 6 leak on Steam, but now I’m banned till 999, crazy move by Microsoft
crazy ban until 9999 for playing leaked Forza Horizon 6 on Steam, hope they reconsider the penalty.
forza Horizon 6’s leaked build on Steam is a disaster, banning players till 9999 is harhs, sets a bad precedent.
skol! Forza Horizon 6’s leak on Steam is crazy, banning players until 9999 is a bit extreme though.
Forza Horizon 6 got leaked on Steam and now players are banned till 9999, that’s a crazy harsh penalty from Microsoft.
Forza Horizon 6 got leaked on Steam and now players are banned till 9999, that's a crazy harsh…
Yeah, it’s wild, but MS had to act fasst to protect the game’s launch integrity, especially since thousands downloaded the 155GB build.
Forza Horizon 6 got leaked on Steam and now players are banned till 9999, that's a crazy harsh…
Yeah, bannning players till 9999 is extreme, especially since it was Microsooft’s mistake that leaked the game in the first place.
Forza Horizon 6 got leaked on Steam and now players are banned until 9999, that’s a crazy harsh penalty for a mistake like this. nani!
Forza Horizon 6’s Japan setting looks awesome, can’t wait for May 19, 2026, but that ban until 9999 is harsh. shukran for the update!
gomawo! Forza Horizon 6’s leak on Steam is crazy, banning players until 9999 is a bit excessive though.
gomawo! Forza Horizon 6's leak on Steam is crazy, banning players until 9999 is a bit excessive though.
Yeah, banning until 9999 is harsh, especially since it was Microsoft’s own mistake that made the game playable in the first place.
wallah this is good. Just got banned till 9999 for playing the Forza Horizon 6 leak on Steam, Microsoft’s taking no prisoners with their DRM
forza Horizon 6 getting leaked on Steam is crazy, 9999 ban is harsh though
Forza Horizon 6’s Japan setting looks epic, but that 9999 ban is harsh, feels like MS is overdoing it.
Fora Horizon 6’s Japan setting is a great choice, but banning players until 9999 is a bit harsh, don’t you think?
Forza Horizon 6’s Japan setting has me hyped, but that 9999 ban is insane, hpe it gets lifted sooner.
Forza Horizon 6's Japan setting has me hyped, but that 9999 ban is insane, hpe it gets lifted…
hola! I feel you, the Japan setting is a great choice, but that ban is indeed excessive, hopefully Microsoft reconsiders it soon
Forza Horizon 6 getting leaked on Steam is carzy, and a 9999 ban is harsh, wonder if it’ll affect teh May 19, 2026 launch. ya habibi
Carzy ban untiil 9999 for plying the Forza Horizon 6 leak, guess Microsoft’s serious about protecting that May 19, 2026 lanuch
Forza Horizon 6 getting leked on Stem is crazy, and a ban until 9999 is harsh, can’t wait for teh official May 19 launch though
forza Horizon 6’s Japan setting is a great choice, but banning players unttil 9999 is a bit harsh, do’t u think?
forza Horizon 6's Japan setting is a great choice, but banning players unttil 9999 is a bit harsh,…
ganbatte! Yeah, I agree, banning till 9999 is ridicculous, especially since the leak wans’t even the players’ falut, it was Microsoft’s mitake
Forza Horizon 6’s Japan setting is wasted on pirates now, 9999 ban is insane.
Just got banned till 9999 for playing the leaked Forza Hrizon 6 on Steam, guess I won’t be racing in Japan anytime soon
Forza Horizon 6’s insane 9999 ban is a heavy-handed move, wonder how this affects legit players who got caught up in the leak on Steam.
Forza Horizon 6’s May 19, 2026 launch is still on, but that 9999 ban is insane, locking out palyers for nearly 8 millennia.