Forza Horizon 5 News

BMW’s signature coupé looks bigger than ever. Get a hold of the 2023 BMW M2 on the third week of Horizon Creatives.

This fierce-looking version of the M2 was designed in Mexico by Mexican designer José Casas; we figure he had “how to go faster” on his mind while he made his early sketches.

The result is a completely mad car equipped with a 3.0 - liter straight 6 –cylinder engine capable of sprinting from 0 – 100 km/h in 4.2 seconds that looks like the powerhouse it is.

Unlock the M2 from September 28 until Octobre 5 by earning 20 PTS on the Festival Playlist.

Let us know what you’d like to see in Forza Horizon 5 in the future. Send your ideas and suggestions to our team through the Suggestions Hub.

If you into any issue on this update or others in the future, please let us know on the Troubleshooting Hub.

Winter has arrived at the Horizon Festival, and with-it new rewards you cannot miss! Take a look at what’s in store for you during this season:

SERIES REWARDS

• 80 PTS: 1995 BMW 850CSi
  
• 160 PTS: 1995 Porsche 911 Carrera 2 by Gunther Werks

SPRING REWARDS

• 20 PTS: 2023 BMW M2
  
• 40 PTS: 2010 BMW M3 GTS

A new smashable item is available to ram into this series, the Flask Collectible will explode into a burst of color once you have knocked it over.

Take a ride on the final obstacle course of Horizon Creatives! Go through its ups, downs, jumps, and bridges as you try to find the hidden treasure chest within it. This time, it will be waiting for you to take it on near the Horizon Baja Festival Site. The entire construction of the course was made from items available in EventLab 2.0, which means you can create your very own obstacle courses for other players to try and beat!

The Forzathon Shop puts the roaring 2016 Audi R8 V10 plus up for sale as well as the classic 1929 Mercedes-Benz SSK to relive its glory days on the track.

This week’s style choices are not too shabby either, a complete builder’s set becomes available for you to purchase at the Forzathon Shop.


[h2]News from the Forza Franchise[/h2]

[h3]Preorder Forza Motorsport on Steam[/h3]

Pre-order the Forza Motorsport Premium Edition so you can start your engines up to 5 days early beginning October 5.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2440510/Forza_Motorsport/

[h3]Check out the Forza Horizon 5 Italian Exotics Car Pack[/h3]

Collect and drive 7 Italian new-to-Forza cars including the 2023 Lamborghini Huracán Tecnica, 2022 Ferrari 296 GTB, 2021 Lamborghini Essenza SCV12, 2020 Ferrari Roma, 2020 Lamborghini SC20, 2019 Italdesign DaVinci Concept and 2018 Lamborghini #63 Squadra Corse Huracán Super Trofeo Evo.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2507010/Forza_Horizon_5_Italian_Exotics_Car_Pack/?curator_clanid=40722422

Welcome to the Forza Photo Guide! In this blog you will discover our photography tips and tricks that we use every day to capture stunning images in Forza Horizon 5. Location, exposure, sunlight, car color, effects and more are all essential aspects of taking a great photo, so let’s break them down.

In this guide we will focus on how to achieve realistic photos that define the cars in the image. While there are some “rules” to photography, we encourage you to experiment with the tips outlined here and modify them to develop your own style for the kind of photos you prefer to take.

[h2]LOCATION[/h2]

Great locations to photograph include the temple in the jungle of Ek' Balam, especially at night when it appears in a colorful illumination, or the Copper Canyon, which almost disappears under dense fog during the morning hours.


Use the Photo Mode effects menu to adjust time-of-day and weather to find a perfect combination.

[h2]DAYTIME[/h2]

We recommend morning or evening hours for most photography scenes as you can visit any location across Mexico, Hot Wheels Park and Sierra Nueva without the worry of incorrect exposure.

If you’re looking to capture a photo of cloudless skies during the midday sun, avoid bright and open environments like the desert, as these will overexpose the image. Instead, the city of Guanajuato with its vibrant streets and beautiful architecture will ensure great lighting conditions that are backed by the shadows casted from each colorful building.


If your scene features stormy weather, the midday hours will also help ensure that the illumination and exposure of the environment are ideal.

[h2]NIGHTTIME[/h2]

Exposure is the most important element that you will need to consider for night photography. The car will be lost in a dark environment without enough light in the image.

Find a location that has a light source. The Horizon Street Scene Festival Outpost is a great place to practice this because it has a lot of light, and you can take a bright picture even in dark conditions.


Remember to adjust the brightness in your Photo Mode so that no details are lost.

[h2]SHADOWS[/h2]

Shadows can sometimes distract from the car itself, especially in the jungle biome. If the car in your image features a livery, you should avoid locations that cast a lot of shadows, as they can distract from the main subject. Therefore, you will need to find a location that doesn’t create overlapping shadows on the car.


One workaround for this is the excellent “Photo Studios” created by the EventLab community. These will highlight the car using specific lighting and work in harmony with shadows to create the ideal levels of exposure.

Also note that increased contrast settings will significantly impact the appearance of the photo and may result in a loss of smaller details, especially on the livery of your car.

[h2]CAR COLOR[/h2]

Capturing a vibrant colored car in a brightly lit environment will result in an overexposed image.


During the night hours, you should use a bright color on your car. Silver for example will reflect the neon colors of the Horizon Street Scene Festival Outpost on the car’s paint. However, at midday you will need a darker color to prevent overexposure. In some environments, a light color will be fine in the daytime, but that is not always the case.

Under the hot desert sun, the dark color of a car will compensate for the beaming sun rays, therefore making the car color appear lighter with a perfect balance between light and dark.


If you don't know how dark the color should be, start with the official manufacturer colors of the cars. German manufacturers, for example, have many dark and classic colors in their portfolio that you can use as inspiration for your color scheme.

[h2]PHOTO EFFECTS[/h2]

By adjusting the settings that you use in Photo Mode, you can develop your own style and flair for each photo and completely change the look of a scene! Whether you want to go for an authentic racing look or photorealism, you’re the one in control.

Bring your car to life by adjusting the shutter speed, capture the action of the moment by tweaking motion blur, and make each scene look more natural with aperture.


The settings we recommend changing frequently are zoom, shutter speed, aperture, and exposure. While these should be adjusted to the scene, based on the location, time of day, and exposure, you do not need to drastically alter them for each image. This is because once you have found your favorite style, it can be applied and tweaked to all your photos to give them a recognizable look.

For instance, the Bokeh setting can add a personal touch to your photos in high depth-of-field night-time scenarios or dark environments, especially in urban settings.

[h2]ZOOM[/h2]

Adjust the zoom level to capture the finished appearance of a car in your photos. For a more realistic style, try using a zoom of x1.7.


Looking to have the landscape in the foreground? Try the fisheye effect, a great way to catch most details achievable with zoom levels between x0.5 and x1. Any lower will result in a stronger fisheye effect that makes the environment look unnatural. While the car may become “stretched” and look unrealistic at low zoom settings, this could be used as a stylization choice to highlight the speed of a vehicle in conjunction with a high shutter speed.

As for keeping the car in focus, we recommend values between x1.4 and x2.5. The more zoom that you use, the further the distance you will need to be from the car assuming you don't want to count the pigments in its paint.

[h2]APERTURE[/h2]

Aperture determines the depth of field in an image. The higher you set it, the shorter the depth of field will be as the background becomes out of focus.


If you’re looking to create realistic or natural images, try using settings between 7 and 13. Below 7, the background will be in focus as well as the foreground. That means no blur effect will be visible between the foreground and background. However, if you set it above 13, the environment will be so blurred that the subject in the foreground will take on a miniaturized “toy-like” appearance. This occurs when the depth of field is so strong that the foreground and background are separated and look like two different images.

[h2]SHUTTER SPEED[/h2]

If you’re looking to capture an action shot, adjusting the shutter speed is a must. The greater the shutter speed, the blurrier everything will be outside the focus. Generally, this setting has no guidelines as it highly depends on your desired outcome.


If you want to make a realistic rolling shot, then setting it up to 20 is acceptable. We also recommend allowing the image to be finished rendering. That means taking the picture, going back, and saving it to achieve the best quality.

[h2]EXPOSURE[/h2]

We’ve already touched on the importance of exposure. In addition to your location, time of day and weather choices greatly influencing the lighting of your picture, it is even more critical to adjust the dedicated exposure setting in Photo Mode to get the absolute best results.


Here's our top tip that you should follow – the photo has the correct brightness if you can distinguish the tire from the rear fender. You can adjust the exposure if it is too dark, or retry at a different location.

[h2]RECOMMENDED PHOTO SETTINGS[/h2]

These are the Turn 10-recommended Photo Mode settings for capturing realistic pictures in Forza Horizon 5. While you should adjust these even further to match your own taste and adapt to the time of day and weather in your scene, they will make for an excellent baseline:

• Shutter Speed: 15
  
• Zoom: 1.7x
  
• Focus: 0
  
• Exposure: 50
  
• Aperture: 9
  
• Bokeh: Diamond
  
• Sampling: Quality
  
• Contrast: 50
  
• Saturation: 50
  
• Brightness: 50
  
• Sepia: 0
  
• Vignette: 0
  
• Temperature: 50

If your car is stationary, you can adjust the wheel tilt to face the camera to highlight your aftermarket rims. This can also help to separate the tire from the rest of the vehicle within darker environments and can change the tone of the image. You can also experiment with character placement and emotes to add even more personality and a unique flair to your photos!


You can save these settings to use at any time via the “Manage Presets” button in Effects Mode, [introduced to Forza Horizon 5 with the Explore the Horizon update](https://forza.net/news/forza-horizon-5-explore-the-horizon). Once you’ve found your own style, you can use this feature to save additional pre-sets so they’re always ready to go.

We hope this blog will help you to capture some incredible Forza Horizon 5 photos! Which brings on to the ultimate question – what is the perfect photo? That’s for you to show us! Share your favorite pictures on social, and include the hashtag #ForzaShare so we can check out your incredible work.

We also host [official weekly photo contests on the Forza Forums](aka.ms/ForzaForums) where you can score in-game prizes. Impress us and you might just get featured on our channels and in our Forza Monthly livestreams.

So, what are you waiting for? Get into Photo Mode today and put these tips and tricks to great use!

When you put technology, performance, and design together you get the 2021 BMW iX xDrive50, the German brand’s all-electric SUV.

516 bhp maximum power, curved screens, and M Sport brakes, the iX is as close as we will get to driving a sci-fi spaceship.

An engine that oozes an urge to race and interiors that will make you want to call this SUV home, the xDrive50 will make you enjoy the ride twice as much as you do the destination.

Get inside this technological wonder from September 21 until September 28 by earning 20 PTS on the second week of the Festival Playlist.

Remember that you can always suggest additions and improvements for Forza Horizon 5 on the Suggestions Hub.

Contact the team on the Troubleshooting Hub if you see any issues with this new update or its features.

Week 2 of the Horizon Creatives rushes in with amazing rewards you cannot miss. Here is the detailed list as well as how to unlock them:

SERIES REWARDS

• 80 PTS: 1995 BMW 850CSi
  
• 160 PTS: 1995 Porsche 911 Carrera 2 by Gunther Werks

SPRING REWARDS

• 20 PTS: 2022 BMW iX xDrive50
  
• 40 PTS: 1964 Porsche 356 C Cabriolet Emory Special

The 2021 Rivian R1T was built with two ideas in mind: the first being a completely electric pickup truck, and the second one is much simpler, dominating any terrain it puts its wheels on.

Being able to drive through sand, climb rocks, and even dive into 3 ft of water, the R1T is the best companion for your off-roading adventures.

Unlock this all-terrain, all electric vehicle by completing “Mudslinger's Scramble” EventLab on the Festival Playlist.

Up next is a complete list of everything you will be able to unlock on the “Autumm” season of Horizon Creatives.

“Super Speed” is the undisputed category of the 2016 Koenigsegg Regera and the 2015 McLaren 570S Coupé, both of which will be available on the Forzathon Shop this season.

Fit the mad scientist look while you are customizing and creating with the Lab Coat item also available for purchase on the Forzathon Shop.


[h2]News from the Forza Franchise[/h2]

[h3]Preorder Forza Motorsport on Steam[/h3]

Pre-order the Forza Motorsport Premium Edition so you can start your engines up to 5 days early beginning October 5.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2440510/Forza_Motorsport/

[h3]Check out the Forza Horizon 5 Italian Exotics Car Pack[/h3]

Collect and drive 7 Italian new-to-Forza cars including the 2023 Lamborghini Huracán Tecnica, 2022 Ferrari 296 GTB, 2021 Lamborghini Essenza SCV12, 2020 Ferrari Roma, 2020 Lamborghini SC20, 2019 Italdesign DaVinci Concept and 2018 Lamborghini #63 Squadra Corse Huracán Super Trofeo Evo.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2507010/Forza_Horizon_5_Italian_Exotics_Car_Pack/?curator_clanid=40722422

The top of the 8 Series BMW line arrives to Mexico in Horizon Creatives.

The 1995 BMW 850CSi used an upgraded version of the engine fitted to the 850i, it was so vastly improved that BMW had to label this new motor differently, and it was now known as the S70B56. This new engine had a 5.6-liter capacity, making it bigger; and it produced 375 bhp which meant it was definitely meaner.

As an authentic touring car star, the 850CSi drives from the rear wheels and its massive power is controlled through a 6-gear transmission.

You can ride on this mean machine by earning 80 PTS on this series from September 21 until October 12!

Help us create the game you want to play! If you want to see a particular car on Forza Horizon 5, share your ideas with us on the Suggestions Hub.

You can always get in touch with us on the Troubleshooting Hub to report any issues that arise with this and later updates.

This is what you can expect from the Festival Playlist on Week 1 of Horizon Creatives

SERIES REWARDS

• 80 PTS: 1995 BMW 850CSi
  
• 160 PTS: 1995 Porsche 911 Carrera 2 by Gunther Werks

SPRING REWARDS

• 20 PTS: 2021 BMW M3
  
• 40 PTS: 2015 Mercedes-AMG GT S

One of the most iconic sedans of all time is back in the 2021 BMW M3. We can tell this modern classic has been hitting the gym, just take a look at its brand-new bulkier design screaming for you to take it out on the track!

The 2021 M3 will be available to unlock for 20 PTS on the first week of the Festival Playlist.

A true racing exotic will be available in the Forzathon Shop as the 1998 TVR Cerbera Speed 12 becomes available for 75 FP. And if you are looking for some new flare, we will also put the Cuckoo Car Horn and Spaik Jumper for purchase.

Keep on reading to find a complete list of unlockables and rewards for the “Summer” season of this new series.


[h2]News from the Forza Franchise[/h2]

[h3]Preorder Forza Motorsport on Steam[/h3]

Pre-order the Forza Motorsport Premium Edition so you can start your engines up to 5 days early beginning October 5.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2440510/Forza_Motorsport/

[h3]Check out the Forza Horizon 5 Italian Exotics Car Pack[/h3]

Collect and drive 7 Italian new-to-Forza cars including the 2023 Lamborghini Huracán Tecnica, 2022 Ferrari 296 GTB, 2021 Lamborghini Essenza SCV12, 2020 Ferrari Roma, 2020 Lamborghini SC20, 2019 Italdesign DaVinci Concept and 2018 Lamborghini #63 Squadra Corse Huracán Super Trofeo Evo.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2507010/Forza_Horizon_5_Italian_Exotics_Car_Pack/?curator_clanid=40722422