Microsoft gives Forza Horizon 6 leakers near permanent hardware bans

Microsoft is taking a hard line against people playing the leaked PC build of Forza Horizon 6 before launch.

The game recently leaked after a Steam publishing mistake reportedly made a fully playable PC build available without DRM. The files spread online, and some players began running the game before its official release.

Now Microsoft and Playground Games appear to be issuing extremely harsh bans to those using the leaked version. Players have reportedly received suspensions for “cheating/unallowed modding,” with an unban date listed as December 31, 9999. In practical terms, that is a lifetime ban.

The bigger issue is that these appear to be hardware ID bans. That means reinstalling Windows will not be enough to return to normal on the same system. A hardware ID ban is tied to the PC hardware itself, so users may need to replace key parts, such as the motherboard, to get around it.

That makes the punishment much more serious than a normal account suspension.

The response is not surprising. Forza Horizon 6 is one of Xbox’s biggest releases of the year, and the leaked build arrived just before launch. Microsoft has a clear reason to discourage players from using unauthorized files, even if some of them have already pre ordered the game.

The hardware ban also sends a message to anyone thinking about trying the leaked build. Even if the game is playable offline, using it before launch could put your Xbox account and PC hardware access at risk.

It is also worth avoiding tools that claim to bypass hardware bans. These are often unreliable and can include malware, keyloggers, or other unsafe software.

For legitimate players, the wait is short. Forza Horizon 6 launches on May 19 for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox Game Pass, Steam, and Xbox on PC. The safest move is to wait for the official release, where online features, updates, saves, achievements, and support will work properly.

The leak was a major mistake, but Microsoft’s response is clear: playing the leaked build is not worth the risk.