Forza Horizon 6 Cultural Consultant Explains Japan Design at CEDEC 2026
The session reveals that Forza Horizon 6's Japan setting was shaped by a dedicated cultural consultant, a role the studio had not formally used before, and that field research in Japan directly influenced game design choices.
Reporting from 1 source: Game Spark.
At CEDEC 2026, cultural consultant Kyoko Yamashita detailed how Playground Games built a lived-in Japan for Forza Horizon 6. She joined a studio with no Japanese staff, guided field research in Tokyo and Hakone, and advised on design, art, sound, and radio DJ auditions. The team aimed for everyday realism over postcard landmarks.
Kyoko Yamashita, a business consultant and interpreter, took the stage at CEDEC 2026 to explain how she served as cultural consultant for Playground Games' Forza Horizon 6. She joined the project when the studio had no Japanese-speaking staff, so she started by introducing basic facts about Japan, from geography and population to urban and rural differences.
Yamashita recommended that key team members visit Japan, and a group of eight toured Tokyo and drove in Hakone. The team noticed the contrast between concrete buildings and greenery, and the coexistence of shrines and modern cityscapes, which they carried into the game. Local mascot characters seen at highway service areas influenced the in-game stamp rally.
After the trip, communication shifted to a weekly meeting plus a dedicated message box where staff posted questions about seasons, festivals, shop signs, and landmarks.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.