Forza Horizon 6 had a surprise pre-release moment on Steam, but it’s not the kind you want to be a part of. The game files accidentally popped up early, and while they were quickly removed, some eager players managed to snag them. But hold on—those folks are now seeing their accounts hit with some epic bans.
The mix-up came when unencrypted game files for this highly anticipated racing title briefly appeared on the game’s Steam page. This kind of early upload isn’t unusual for big releases, but the lack of encryption opened the door to piracy. In a flash, cracked versions of Forza Horizon 6 were circulating online, and Microsoft wasn’t having any of it.
One unlucky gamer, known as DVS Squad, got a swift reality check after showing off his unauthorized playtime. He found himself banned for over 69 million hours—yep, that’s until December 31, 9999. This isn’t the first time Microsoft has cracked down hard on pirates. They’ve got a history of throwing the ban hammer at anyone dabbling in unauthorized game access, from Gears of War Remake leaks to console mods.
With Playground Games hyping up their latest with details on the map and vehicles, legitimate fans have a lot to look forward to when the game officially drops. Keep an eye out for any updates on game security, and maybe consider holding off on those leaks if you want to keep your account in good standing!
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