Developer Playground Games has issued a lifetime ban to a player who accessed Forza Horizon 6 early, after unencrypted files appeared on Steam. Forza Horizon 6 is set to be one of the biggest game releases this month, but some players have managed to play it well before the official launch.
Unencrypted Pre-Load Data
Over the weekend, Playground Games rolled out an update on Forza Horizon 6's Steam page but accidentally uploaded the pre-load data without encryption. Game files are typically uploaded ahead of launch, but if not encrypted, they can be downloaded and accessed by those with technical know-how. Playground Games has since fixed the error, as noted on SteamDB, but the brief unencrypted window allowed some players to play cracked versions of Forza Horizon 6 before its official release on May 19.
YouTuber Receives Lifetime Ban
As seen with one player, accessing these files carries severe consequences. YouTuber DVS Squad was issued a lifetime ban after uploading a video showing the game in action, inadvertently revealing his account name. A screenshot circulated online, verified by GameCentral as coming from DVS Squad's Discord server, shows the ban issued by the Forza Community Team, expiring on December 31, 9999. The message states: 'Due to cheating/unallowed modding, you have been suspended. For more information, visit aka.ms/ForzaBanInfo.'
While it is unclear if the ban is tied to his hardware or just his account, it means DVS Squad has 7,973 years to wait before he can play Forza Horizon 6 officially. Unless he ends up as a head in a jar, he will never get to play it legitimately.
Comparison to Previous Ban
Interestingly, a Forza Horizon 5 player received a similar lifetime ban from the game's livery editor for creating a design based on North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un. That ban was slightly longer at 7,978 years.
How to Play Forza Horizon 6 Early
For most players, waiting until May 19 is necessary. However, those who pre-order the Premium edition for £109.99 can access the game four days early. This edition also includes access to two future expansions, various car packs, and cosmetics. For those waiting for the PlayStation 5 version, Playground Games has confirmed it will arrive later this year.
