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Forza Horizon 6 Leak Triggers Franchise-Wide, Hardware Bans Ahead of Launch

Playground Games is using severe penalties to deter piracy to preserve its May 19 release.

Overview

  • Playground Games, which on Monday said the leak was not caused by a Steam preload, confirmed a pre-release PC build was obtained and warned of franchise-wide and hardware bans.
  • Creators and players seen using the unauthorized build reported suspensions, including a verified case showing a ban lasting until December 31, 9999.
  • Cracked PC copies of roughly 155GB spread across piracy sites as screenshots, clips, and streams appeared on social platforms despite takedown efforts.
  • Reports say the leaked build is unstable and lacks online features, with users trading tips for avoiding crashes and freezes.
  • Developers re-secured files and issued takedowns, and early access on May 15 and the full May 19 launch remain on schedule with strong Steam sales rankings.