The recent Xbox Developer Direct provided an exciting glimpse into *Forza Horizon 6*, confirming that Playground Games is fully embracing the romanticized Japanese setting. Beyond the stunning open world, the developer showcased the new “Touge Battle” mode, a feature that instantly channels the spirit of the cult-classic street-racing manga and anime, *Initial D*.
Touge Battle, as briefly detailed by the development team, centers on intense, specialized nighttime races winding down the treacherous Japanese mountain passes. To drive home the nostalgia, the gameplay footage prominently featured the most recognizable car in street racing history: the Toyota Sprinter Trueno AE86. Watching the AE86—the iconic vehicle of *Initial D*’s protagonist—drifting aggressively around tight corners confirms this mode is a pure tribute to the source material.
However, the anime references didn’t stop at street racing. Eagle-eyed viewers caught a fleeting glimpse of what appeared to be a colossal, full-sized Gundam robot within the environment. Considering the *Horizon* series’ tradition of extravagant and often ridiculous showcase races—pitting players against everything from trains to jet fighters—it would not be surprising if players are eventually tasked with challenging a skyscraper-sized mech to a high-speed showdown.