Weird Forza Horizon 6 Feature Removed

Forza Horizon 6 has finally arrived, giving players the freedom to race through Japan’s massive open world, smash through forests, and drift across scenic mountain roads.

But fans quickly noticed that one strange “feature removal” changes how destruction works in the game.

Unlike almost every other tree across the map, Cherry Blossom trees, also known as Sakura can no longer be destroyed.

Sakura trees are completely indestructible

Across the world of Forza Horizon 6, players can plow through fences, signs, bushes, and even most forests without slowing down. However, Sakura trees instantly stop vehicles on impact, regardless of speed.

The difference became especially noticeable during the game’s Spring season, where Cherry Blossom trees appear throughout several regions of the map.

Many players initially assumed the collision behavior was a bug, but the developers later confirmed it was fully intentional.

Why Playground Games removed the destruction feature

Speaking to The Japan Times, design director Torben Ellert explained that the studio deliberately chose not to make Sakura trees destructible because of their cultural importance in Japan.

“Almost all trees in the game are smashable to ensure that traversing the world map is both fun and rewarding. However, several tree types are not, for example, the cherry blossom trees, because they’re an iconic element of Japanese culture,” Ellert explained.

He also confirmed that several temples, shrines, and historic landmarks were designed the same way to discourage players from driving through culturally important locations.

“Certain temples or other cultural elements are also excluded so that players aren’t tempted to drive through shrines or locations of cultural importance.”

Community reactions are mixed

The decision has sparked mixed reactions among the Forza Horizon 6 community.

Some players praised the developers for respecting Japanese culture and preserving important landmarks across the map.

Others found it strange that the game suddenly removes destruction mechanics for specific objects despite the series being heavily focused on chaotic off-road driving.