This week, Playground Games and Xbox Game Studios launch Forza Horizon 6. An open-world racing game where players compete in an online racing festival. In this update, the Horizon festival is set in a fictionalized version of Japan.
Notably, the game features in-game radio stations for players to enjoy while racing through Japan. To the delight of J-rock and J-metal fans, these stations feature Japanese music. There are nine stations altogether, and the following highlights songs by Japanese artists.
Forza Radio Station: Horizon XS
This is the rock and metal station featuring over two dozen bands from around the world, including Linkin Park, Rise Against, Spiritbox, and other modern rock bands. Yet, for our first Japanese spotlight, there is Dystopia (Japanese Version) by ONE OK ROCK. Conveniently, it’s one of the most rocking tracks from their latest album, DETOX.
When ONE OK ROCK began playing small live houses and summer festivals in Tokyo in 2005, did they expect to have their songs in a UK-made video game? Regardless, it makes sense to include them on the game’s soundtrack, as they are currently one of the biggest rock bands in Japan, having sold out shows in Japan and gained massive fans around the world. Yet, while Dystopia is a cool track with cruising vibes, Save Yourself from Luxury Disease could have also been a skill point-earning song.
Next, and this is incredible, we have BABYMETAL for not one, but two songs on the soundtrack! Someone at Playground Games must be a big fan. First, it’s White Flame [ー白炎ー] from last year’s album METAL FORTH. With its blast beats and heavy rhythm, the kawaii metal banger should get adrenaline pumping as players grip their controllers.
Moreover, the music supervisor must have also thrown in the viral hit that propelled BABYMETAL into the global stratosphere: Gimme Chocolate!! It hit the mainstream in 2014, gaining millions of views, and continues to increase their popularity to today. Including it makes sense for a game aimed at a global audience, so BABYMETAL’s Choco should be recognizable to gamers. Personally, if they were drawing from that 2015 debut album, I would have preferred Megitsune [メギツネ] for its fast tempo, festive sound, and use of traditional Japanese instruments.
And then, if I could give an “Employee of the Year” award to someone on the music team at Xbox Game Studios, it would be for selecting my all-time favorite group. Get ready to have your mind blown—BAND-MAID races into the soundtrack with their electrifying anthem What is justice? straight off their explosive new album SCOOOOOP.
Additionally, this speaks volumes for a band that so often goes under the radar, yet continues to grow in popularity in Japan and overseas. Plus, I believe several of BAND-MAID’s high-energy songs would work well in a racing video game. Recently, they have been very busy making theme songs for anime, so why not games too? Also, check out the car destruction in the Warning! music video, and imagine performing stunts by doing the same in Forza Horizon 6. Also, see BAND-MAID live as they go on their world tour this year!
Now, for an unexpected choice and such a good one, there is the electrifying Ray by PassCode. While they are not as big outside Japan, they are primed for a boost with over 10 years of energetic songs.
PassCode may fall into the kawaii metal genre, with J-pop singers upfront and a backing band providing the heavy metal sound. Yet their idolcore style, digital sound effects, and the group’s look seem tailor-made for video game soundtracks. A good example of that is Taking you out from 2018, which has already been taken up by another racing game.
Furthermore, coming out of nowhere, yet entirely appropriate, is Uchikubi Gokumon Doukoukai [打首獄門同好会] with their song HATARAKITAKUNAI [はたらきたくない]. This surprised me as I was not that familiar with Gokumon, but it is an outstanding selection from a prominent Japanese group.
While still active in Japan today, they also represent Japanese culture when touring internationally. So another “good on ya mate” kudos to the music team. Even better is how the song’s name basically translates to “I don’t want to work.” If you are a gamer like me, how often do you sit down at the job and think I’d rather be driving a virtual supercar in Tokyo instead of working!
Forza Radio Station: Gacha City Radio
Crank up the volume for this soundtrack, which is packed with today’s hottest J-pop sensations, bringing the vibrant energy of Japan’s music scene straight to your game. Big shout-out to the Forza team for fully committing to this fictional radio station. Plus, to really immerse the player in a driving experience like actually being in Japan, the DJ speaks entirely in Japanese!
Yet, among the more than two dozen pop hits on the radio station, bands include Creepy Nuts, KANA-BOON, and 10-FEET. Moreover, these artists are massively popular, with millions of views and streams in Japan and worldwide. And for me, the most notable are Ado and YOASOBI. Every anime fan knows YOASOBI for their huge hit Idol from 2023. Interestingly, for Ado, it’s New Genesis [新時代] from the 2022 One Piece Film: Red anime.
Perhaps, going with New Genesis was to fit the vibe of a festival, as the song was also used in the pirate movie for a big concert scene.
Forza Radio Station: Sub Pop Records
Finally, an honorable mention, CHAI’s We The Female! is included on the indie and punk radio station. This four-member pop band from Nagoya disbanded in 2024, yet their music will live on in Forza Horizon 6. Once again, the selection reflects the development team’s wide-ranging approach to building a soundtrack suitable for the game’s Japanese setting.
Tokyo Drifting With J-rock
In summary, the inclusion of Japanese music in Forza Horizon 6 is impressive along with the rest of the hot soundtrack. The effort by Playground Games and Xbox Game Studios enhances the authenticity of the game’s Japanese-inspired setting. Mostly, the soundtrack offers players an opportunity to engage with contemporary Japanese music.
Yet, I would humbly ask for more! Perhaps a future DLC could add additional music from the J-rock scene. Either add songs by the artists listed above, or reach out to groups like LOVEBITES, NEMOPHILA, or HANABIE. Consider how it would be an absolute blast to drift around Tokyo in a Toyota AE86 while listening to IRIS OUT, the theme song from Chainsaw Man. Or, go old-school with a Nissan Fairlady Z and X Japan on the radio while driving by traditiohnal farmhouses in Shirakawa-go.
No matter what music you want—turn that volume up, sit back, rev those engines, and drive! Forza Horizon 6 is available now on PC and Xbox Series X|S
