Forza Horizon 5 players and data miners discovered game files in the game’s directory indicating a number of cars that have yet to be released. These leaks are not the only leads to the upcoming cars. The game has a list of achievements and accolades that require certain cars, but these cars are yet to be released.
Why are some cars yet to be released & The impact of Licensing:
This case may be a result of either reserving for upcoming events or licensing issues. In most cases it might be the latter. Developers cannot just add in any car they want. Every game that features a real car in it, has to attain a specific license from the manufacturer. This license does not only apply to cars but also any branded parts (like brakes, tires, hoods, etc.). Some of these licenses may be more complex than others (especially in cases where there are more than two parties involved). Factors such as timing, exclusivity, compensation etc. are essential in making such a license. An example would be when EA had an exclusivity deal with Porsche and if developers outside EA wanted to include this manufacturer’s cars, they would need to pay a certain additional amount.
If a car was available in the previous installment of the game, there is no guarantee that it will be available in the next. This is due to the limitations in a car license, where it requires a new license for each installment. There are also cases where certain manufacturers deny licenses because the game does not align with the it’s ideals. Tesla for example, is not present in any sort of racing game, due to their stand on not endorsing in any adverts, and it considers these games as a form of advertisement.
Some of the leaked cars:
Here are the list of cars leaked by data miners recently from the original game files:
- 2019 Subaru WRX STi ARX
- 2009 Land Rover Defender
- 2017 Subaru Crosstrek Desert Racer
- 2013 Ford Shelby F-150 SVT Raptor
- 1985 Nissan Safari Turbo AD
- 1980 Subaru BRAT GL
- 2006 Ford GTX1
- 1962 Lincoln Continental
- 1967 Volvo 123 GT
- 2011 Peugeot 308 GTi
- 1970 Dodge Coronet Super Bee
- 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8
- 2010 Abarth 500 Esseesse
Some cars that are yet to be released to complete certain accolades are expected to appear soon. There are no means to acquire these cars at the moment. An example can be the 1974 Hoonigan Ford Branco which is required to complete a skills accolade is yet to be available.
These cars may be present in the files but it does not guarantee their release. This is mostly due to potential licensing issues or planned upcoming events.
