10 Things You Need to Know About Crossplay in Forza Horizon 6

Forza Horizon 6 promises to take us on an unforgettable journey through the vibrant landscapes of Japan, and nothing beats exploring those scenic routes with friends. Crossplay is the key that unlocks a unified racing community, allowing players on Xbox, PC, and cloud to tear through Tokyo’s neon-lit streets together. Whether you’re cruising in a convoy or battling for podium finishes, crossplay ensures no one gets left behind. To help you gear up for the adventure, here are 10 essential details about crossplay in Forza Horizon 6.

1. Crossplay Is Available on All Platforms from Day One

Forza Horizon 6 fully supports crossplay across Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, and Xbox Cloud Gaming. This means you can team up with friends regardless of their chosen device. The feature is enabled by default, so you don’t need to toggle any settings—just jump into the Horizon Festival and invite anyone from your friends list. The seamless integration ensures that a player on a high-end PC can race alongside someone on an older Xbox One without any barriers. This commitment to inclusivity reinforces Playground Games’ dedication to building a united player base from launch.

2. Cross-Save and Cross-Progression Are Supported

Your progress carries over between platforms thanks to full cross-save functionality. If you start your Horizon journey on Xbox and later switch to PC, all your cars, credits, accolades, and story progress remain intact. This is tied to your Xbox Live account, so as long as you log in with the same credentials, you’ll pick up right where you left off. Cross-progression is especially handy for those who use cloud gaming on mobile or tablet—you can earn credits during a quick session and continue grinding on your console at home. The only caveat: in-game purchases like VIP membership or Car Pass tokens are also shared, so spend wisely.

3. No Cross-Platform Parties—Use Your Platform’s Native Party Chat

While the game itself supports crossplay for gameplay, voice chat is handled through your platform’s built-in party system. For Xbox players, that means using the Xbox party chat app, while PC gamers can use the Xbox Game Bar or Discord. There is no in-game voice chat that bridges platforms directly. However, text chat works within the convoy menu, allowing quick messages like “Meet at the festival” or “Race next.” For coordinated teamwork, many players rely on third-party apps like Discord, which works flawlessly on both Xbox (using the Discord app) and PC. This separation keeps voice quality stable and reduces in-game audio clutter.

4. Crossplay Convoys Support Up to 12 Players

You can form a convoy of up to 12 friends, regardless of their platform. This max capacity is ideal for large group cruises through the Japanese countryside or chaotic playground events. The convoy leader can quickly switch between cooperative and competitive modes, ensuring everyone stays together. Unlike previous titles, FH6 introduces dynamic convoy scaling: if friends drop in or out, the game seamlessly adjusts without kicking everyone back to free roam. This makes impromptu sessions much smoother. Just remember that convoy size might be limited during certain seasonal events or ranked races, where the cap drops to 6 to balance competition.

5. Cross-Platform Features Extend to EventLab and Blueprints

User-generated content is fully cross-platform. Custom races, stunts, and challenges created in EventLab are available to all players, no matter their device. If a PC player designs an epic drift course through a cherry blossom forest, Xbox and cloud users can download and race it. Blueprints also share across platforms, so your carefully tuned car build can be used by friends on other systems. The only limitation: certain custom paint jobs with sponsored decals might not appear if the sponsor’s license differs by region, but this is rare. Overall, this cross-platform content ecosystem expands the game’s replay value tremendously.

6. You Can Communicate Requests to Join Games Across Platforms

Inviting a friend on a different platform is straightforward. Use the Xbox app on PC or mobile to send an invite, or have friends search for your gamertag. Forza Horizon 6 includes a “Recent Players” tab that shows cross-platform users you’ve encountered. You can send a friend request directly from that list. If you’re in a lobby and want to invite someone, the game displays their platform icon next to their name—so you know whether they’re on Xbox, PC, or cloud. This transparency helps avoid confusion when planning meet-ups. Just note that if a player has privacy settings limiting crossplay, you might not see them; you can adjust your own in the online settings menu.

7. Ranked Crossplay Is Optional but Encouraged

In competitive modes like Rivals and ranked adventures, crossplay is optional. You can choose to matchmake only with players on your own platform if you prefer a more level playing field. However, enabling crossplay pools the entire community, resulting in faster queue times and a larger variety of opponents. Playground Games has implemented input-based matchmaking for ranked: controller players are matched against controller players, and wheel/pedal users against their own kind. This ensures that steering wheel sim racers don’t have an unfair advantage over gamepad users. Most players keep crossplay on for the healthiest matchmaking experience.

8. Cross-Platform Leaderboards Track Everyone Together

All leaderboards—whether for speed zones, drift scores, or story missions—are unified across platforms. This means you can compare your S-class 200mph run with friends on Xbox One or cloud. The global leaderboard shows every player’s platform icon, adding a fun competitive element: you might see a cloud streamer beating your time on a smartphone. Monthly and seasonal leaderboards also reset at the same time for all platforms, so no one gets a head start. This unified tracking is one of the most appreciated crossplay features, as it fosters a truly global sense of achievement.

9. Crossplay Works with Xbox Game Pass and Cloud Gaming

If you subscribe to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, you can play Forza Horizon 6 on console, PC, and through the cloud on mobile, tablets, or low-end laptops. Crossplay is fully functional across all these instances. For instance, you could start a race on your Xbox at home, then continue the same convoy on your phone during a commute. The cloud version uses touch controls or a Bluetooth controller, and the game’s graphics adjust automatically. Your friends on PC or console won’t even notice you’re streaming. This flexibility is a game-changer for busy players who want to stay connected with their Horizon crew.

10. Crossplay Requires an Active Xbox Live Account

To participate in any crossplay activity, you need an Xbox Live account (free on PC, Gold/Ultimate on Xbox). This account ties your identity across platforms. Even if you’re playing on Steam, you’ll still need to link your Steam ID to an Xbox Live account. The process is quick—just sign in once. After that, all crossplay features unlock. Keep in mind that privacy settings on your Xbox Live account can affect who can send you invites. For the best experience, set your online status to “Appear Online” and allow friend requests from all platforms. This ensures no missed connections.

Crossplay in Forza Horizon 6 is more than just a checkbox feature—it’s the backbone of a thriving, interconnected community. From fluid convoys to unified leaderboards, the game ensures that platform preferences never get in the way of shared adventures in Japan. Whether you’re drifting past Mount Fuji with console buddies or challenging cloud gamers in a street race, the horizon is truly boundless. So gather your friends, sync your Xbox Live account, and get ready to experience the most inclusive Forza Festival yet. See you on the road!