Playground Games released a new Forza Horizon 5 patch which added badges and custom racing to online play among other general improvements and bug fixes. The open-world racing game is among the highest-rated in the franchise, improving from previous iterations with technical innovations, upgraded graphics, and new systems for players to explore. It launched with critical acclaim, winning both critics and consumers by fixing some of Forza’s biggest problems. Despite its success, Playground Games seems to remain committed to improving the game with continued content updates and patches.
Forza Horizon 5’s Series 5 update arrived in early March, bringing a larger prop selection to EventLab, the PR Stunt Carnival to the Horizon Stadium, and more cars for players to earn. The updates also addressed some player concerns, fixing bugs such as problems with Photo Mode and Headlights. Most notably, the Series 5 updates introduced sign language accessibility features to the game, supporting both the American Sign Language and British Sign Language for over 300 cinematics. The update was a huge step forward in making Forza Horizon 5 the most accessible racing game. Playground Games had already provided other accessibility features, such as the ability for players to adjust the game for multiple forms of colorblindness.
According to the Forza Horizon 5 patch notes (via Forza Support), the developers have added badges and custom racing to online play, in addition to several general improvements and bug fixes. Horizon Open now includes custom races, which allow players to matchmake with like-minded players. These players will now be able to set different racing parameters like PI class and the type of race, altering what kind of race they’ll enter in online competition. The patch also implemented a new progression system that includes badges that can be unlocked through gameplay. The progression system will apply to Open Racing, Drifting, Playground Games, and the Custom Racing game modes. XP earned in Forza Horizon 5’s Horizon Open will now contribute to both the player’s level and the new Horizon Open level. Reaching higher Horizon Open levels unlocks various rewards in the Horizon Open tile.
Forza Horizon 5 Series 6 Patch Notes:
General
- Stability and Performance improvements
- Improved save flow for Weekly Forzathon to reduce chances of any progression loss
- Updated string for Car Voucher to be more specific about what its function is
- Updated Seasonal Event map pins to match the Seasonal PR Stunt pin
- Fixed issue where brake calipers were getting left behind from the car when changing Tunes in Freeroam
- Added HUD for cars with Race Mode type functionality to support the new Drivetrain swap mode on the Ford Mustang Mach-E
- Added low-res mesh under the world to improve the visuals when world chunks dropped out at high altitudes such as when using the new Gravity Action in EventLab (Series X/S and PC only)
- Re-tuned the dirty air aerodynamic effect: the change reduces the amount of total downforce lost due to dirty air and improves the total aerodynamic balance distribution when following closely another car. This effect is more noticeable when driving very fast with cars that produce a sizeable amount of downforce
Online
- Horizon Open has been updated with a new progression system including Badges which can be unlocked through gameplay
- Added Custom Racing to Horizon Open, which will allow players to find races for their chosen race discipline and PI class
- Fixed some scenarios where the player could be left waiting longer than necessary in the post-race flow
PC
- Fixed an issue where distant trees could look black or very dark on Very Low Preset
- Fixed Crash that occurred in Livery Editor when Ray Tracing was on
Cars
- Fixed dent in Jaguar XJS220s
- Fixed brake callipers being incorrectly offset on the 2014 VW Golf R
- Roll cage was incorrectly being added to the Sports Chassis reinforcement instead of the Race Chassis reinforcement on the 2016 Porsche Cayman GT4
- Fixed issue where one of the rear brake callipers on the 2020 Lamborghini Hurácan Evo wasn't paintable
- Fixed issue where passenger side rear brake calliper wasn't paintable on the 2010 Lexus LFA
- Fixed livery mapping issue with the 2018 KTM X-Bow in low LOD
- Fixed quiet superchargers on some muscle cars, in particular Dodge
- Fixed the 2012 Gallardo LP570-4 Spyder Performante hood not matching the selected colour
- Fixed broken mesh on the Work Emotion 11R Rims
- Fixed the Work Emotion M8R Rims not looking correct with certain paint options
- Fixed the shift animation on the 1968 Renault 4L
EventLab
- Added Gravity Action to Rules of Play which allows players to manipulate Gravity in EventLab creations
- Added option to preview sounds
- When using manual gears, moved Blueprint Builder off the View button to the Route Options menu as it was conflicting with Place Checkpoint
- Fixed issue where players could get soft locked after an event and loading back to Freeroam
- Fixed an issue where playing your own EventLab creation after publishing, could sometimes cause it to load without props
Accolades
- Fixed issue with "The Completionist" Accolade not unlocking under the right conditions
- Fixed description of "Showpiece" Accolade
The patch is part of Forza Horizon 5’s Series 6 update, which drastically changes the game in many ways. The Series 6 Update, also named “Horizon Customs,” mainly focuses on Horizon Open and the EventLab systems. It was announced that the EventLab would get a slew of new original props, such as concrete and plaster walls, asphalt platforms, and neon shipping containers, among other items. There are also new additions to the Rules of Play, which grant even more freedom for Forza Horizon 5’s race-creation toolkit.
The badges introduced in the Series 6 patch add more incentive for players to compete in Horizon Open games. Completing challenges or gaining Horizon Open XP will earn players different badges, which can be displayed beside a player’s Gamertag. Badges are also visible in Horizon Life Free Roam, as well as other game modes, so players can share their achievements with friends and other racers. The progression system and new custom races are just more examples of Playground Games’ dedication to Forza Horizon 5 and are a good sign for its longevity.
Source: Forza Support