Forza Horizon 6 Dev Explains Why Shrines, Temples, and Cherry Blossom Trees Are Indestructible
Forza Horizon 6 brings the arcade racing franchise to Japan for the first time, featuring a detailed and stylized version of the country with locations ranging from downtown Tokyo to scenic countryside roads. The game follows the series’ signature approach of rewarding players for causing destruction—crashing into vehicles and environmental objects nets experience points and encourages aggressive, chaotic driving.
However, the game makes notable exceptions to its destructibility system. According to design director Torben Ellert in an interview with The Japan Times, certain culturally and religiously significant sites remain indestructible. Specifically, shrines, temples, and cherry blossom trees cannot be destroyed by player collisions, even when players deliberately crash into them.
This design decision reflects a deliberate choice by Playground Games to show cultural respect while developing a game set in Japan. The preserved landmarks and sacred spaces contrast with the game’s otherwise destructible environment, where players can cause widespread damage for gameplay rewards. This approach allows the developer to maintain the core destructive mechanics that define Forza Horizon’s appeal while being mindful of cultural sensitivities around religious and natural heritage sites that hold significance for Japanese players and culture.