In Microsoft Games’ latest Let’s Play! stream, Playground Games announced the newest Forza Horizon 5 playlist celebrating Dia de Muertos. Here’s everything in the update.
Every month, Forza Horizon 5 gets a new set of challenges and races to compete in as well as a new collection of reward cars for completing said challenges. With each month’s ‘Festival Playlist’ comes a new theme. With Mexico playing host to the game’s map, the October festivities focus around the Mexican holiday, Dia de Muertos.
In a live stream over the weekend, Playground Games announced the new playlist. Players will notice many changes from 10 October highlighting this ‘Day of the Dead’ celebration. Challenges, treasure hunts, collectibles and races will all be available with four new cars to win. Here’s all we know.
Map Overhaul
Much like any other major holiday, Dia de Muertos is a cause for celebration. As many will know, Mexico is surely one of the best countries in the world for putting on a show. As such, the Forza Horizon 5 map is set to receive a drastic change in look.
From 10 October, when the game update drops, players will notice decorations throughout the representation of Mexico. The town of Mulegé will receive a number of flower displays, skull decorations and colourful animal inflatables. A special drone light show will also appear above the town.
Various collectibles will be dotted around the map, giving players the chance to smash up their pent-up real world frustrations. Break enough of these themed props and you will earn Festival Playlist points.
Dia de Muertos Festival Playlist
Every new Festival Playlist features reward cars, and this month is no different. Among the main cars overarching across the four-week playlist is the Ferrari 250 GT Lusso. This stunning Italian classic will become available to players after earning 80 Playlist points across the four weeks.
But within each week, players will also get to win new models. In Week 1, the Nissan Tsuru will be the perfect 20-point reward for budding drifters. This car may be all but forgotten to the majority of the industry, but Playground Games was keen to introduce its fans to the popular tuner saloon.
Based in Mexico, the VW Beetle plays a large part in the Forza Horizon 5 story. By extension, the name ‘Meyer Manx’ is often thrown around. But in 2023, a company introduced an up-to-date version of the buggy, in EV form. That Meyer Manx 2.0 is the 20-point reward for Week 2 of the Dia de Muertos Forza Horizon 5 playlist.
A cover car, the Ford Bronco is also an icon in FH5. So the introduction of the more powerful and brash Ford Bronco Raptor will be popular. Players claim this muscular off-roader from the Blue Oval after achieving 20 playlist points in Week 3.
Finally, Week 4 is certain to prove busy for Le Mans and classic Porsche fans. The Stuttgart-based manufacturer’s original Le Mans winner, the 356 SL is the 20-point reward in the final week of the upcoming season.
New Forza Horizon 5 Car Pack
Aside from several free cars as part of the festival playlist, Forza Horizon 5 also gets a new Car Pack this month. As its name would suggest, the Super Speed Car Pack is full of the fastest performance cars.
Available at an additional cost, the Super Speed Car Pack can be found in the Steam and Microsoft Games stores. Four new cars come as part of the pack, most of which are sure to impress your server neighbours.
First up is the relatively tame VW Golf R – that is in comparison to its fellow Car Pack members. Despite its modest looks and practical hatchback layout, this top-of-the-range variant is a weapon. A 2-litre turbocharged four-pot puts out a whopping 315hp to all four wheels. This is certainly a car ready to win any hatchback event.
The Porsche Cayman GT4 RS raises the level somewhat. If the standard GT4 is a proper bit of kit, this model might as well be a race car. It uses the same flat-six as the current 911 GT3, but places it in the middle of the chassis for improved weight balance. Thanks to aero parts all over its body, it sticks to the road like no-one’s business.
Climbing the ladder once more is an out-and-out race car. The KTM X-Bow GT2 is the third member of the Super Speed Car Pack, eligible for GT racing around the world. How the Horizon Festival can licence this beast for the road, we do not know. But it will certainly be a fun experience trying to control it.
Finally, the Elemental RP1 completes this pack of ridiculously rapid cars. An open-top track day runner, this best resembles the Ariel Atom or original KTM X-Bow. Despite its engine bearing the Ford Ecoboost moniker, it propels this car to 100km/h from a standstill in under three seconds.
What do you make of the changes coming to Forza Horizon 5 for Dia de Muertos? Tell us on Twitter at @OverTake_gg or in the comments down below!
