Forza Horizon 6 has not officially launched for everyone yet, but some players who accessed and modified early copies of the game are already facing brutal enforcement action. Players caught for cheating or unauthorized modding are receiving suspensions that last until December 31, 9999, which is basically Forza’s way of saying permanent ban.
Forza Horizon 6 Early Players Are Reportedly Getting Year 9999 Bans
The screenshot shared online shows an in-game message from the Forza Community Team titled “Suspended for Cheating/Unallowed Modding.” The listed duration is more than 69 million hours, with the unbanned date set to 12/31/9999.
While that date obviously sounds ridiculous, it has been used in gaming communities as a practical permanent ban marker. In this case, reports suggest the punishment is being handed to players who accessed early copies of Forza Horizon 6 and used mods or other unauthorized methods before release.
Forza Is Cracking Down So Hard
Forza’s official Code of Conduct makes it clear that cheating and modding are taken seriously across the series. The policy specifically lists modifying game files, running cheat tools, obtaining unreleased cars, piracy, fraudulent leaderboard entries, and similar behavior under cheating or modding violations.
If players are using leaked or early builds, especially with modified files, it directly hits several areas that Forza already treats as enforcement-worthy.
Forza Horizon 6 Was Reportedly Leaked Before Release
The ban reports come after Forza Horizon 6 was reportedly leaked and cracked ahead of its official launch. A full version of the game appeared online before release after some Steam users accessed an unencrypted preload build.
Forza Horizon 6 is officially scheduled to launch on Xbox Series X|S and PC on May 19, 2026, with Premium Edition early access beginning on May 15. A PlayStation 5 version is also planned for later in 2026.
The Ban Message Points to Cheating and Unallowed Modding
The key part of the screenshot is the reason listed in the message: “Cheating/Unallowed Modding.” Forza Support also states that common violations include cheating and unauthorized modding, including running cheat software, obtaining unreleased cars, and modifying game files.
In other words, this does not appear to be just about playing early. The bigger issue seems to be unauthorized access, modification, or tampering with the game before the official rollout.
A Year 9999 Ban Sends a Clear Message
The year 9999 ban is extreme, but that seems to be the point. Microsoft, Playground Games, and the Forza enforcement team likely want to send a strong message before Forza Horizon 6 fully launches. If players are already trying to mod, crack, or manipulate the game early, the studio is making it clear that the punishment will not be a slap on the wrist.
It is also worth noting that some reports describe these as hardware-level bans, though Microsoft and Forza have not publicly issued a detailed statement specifically explaining the latest Forza Horizon 6 enforcement wave. Until an official statement arrives, the safest way to frame this is that screenshots and reports show severe bans being issued for cheating or unauthorized modding tied to early copies.
