Forza Horizon 6’s return to ‘wristband progression’ isn’t the stand-in for a career mode I wanted it to be, but maybe that’s for the best
Forza Horizon 6 is reintroducing the “wristband progression” system, a feature that defined earlier entries in the Forza franchise. According to design director Torben Ellert, the progression system was unveiled during a Developer Direct presentation at the start of the year. Players will begin their journey as tourists in Japan, requiring them to earn a place in the Festival before advancing through the game’s ranks.
The return of this mechanic addresses long-standing player feedback about the absence of meaningful progression in recent Forza games across both the Horizon open-world and Motorsport racing series. The traditional progression loop—starting with modest vehicles and gradually working toward purchasing supercars—has been notably absent from recent iterations. Developer Playground Games appears to have implemented wristband progression as a solution to restore this sense of achievement and advancement.
While the feature represents a step toward recreating the satisfying progression players remembered from earlier titles, the author of the piece suggests it may not fully replicate a traditional career mode experience. However, the author ultimately reflects that this limitation might prove beneficial for the game’s overall design and structure, acknowledging that wristband progression brings back the cherished feeling of advancement that defined the franchise’s earlier success.