Playground Games has officially revealed the next update for Forza Horizon 5 called Back To The 90’s and it not only brings back nostalgia but also brings back the Horizon BackStage, a key late-game element added to Forza Horizon 4. The Horizon Festival is embracing 90s nostalgia, offering you a chance to relive the era of boy bands, grunge fashion, CDs, and VHS tapes.
Forza Horizon 4 players will be happy to see the return of Horizon Backstage. If you’ve missed out on any previous Festival Playlist reward cars, now is your chance to catch up. To access the cars in the Horizon Backstage Shop, you must collect Backstage Passes, a new in-game currency. These passes can be obtained through two methods: earning 40 points (PTS) in the Festival Playlist Seasonal Reward or purchasing them from the Forzathon Shop for 1,000 Forzathon points. You can earn up to two Backstage Passes each week. This may change for the future Festival Playlists but for the next four weeks during Back To The 90s, you will only find these Backstage Passes as 40 Point rewards for each Festival Playlist.
To celebrate the return of the Horizon Backstage, every player will receive a free Backstage Pass via an in-game message on October 10. This will allow you to explore the Backstage Shop as soon as it becomes available. The cars available for purchase will be decided by the community through a weekly voting system. Two pairs of cars will be put up for a vote each week, and the winning pair will be featured in the Backstage Shop for the following season. You can cast their votes by entering the Horizon Backstage menu, either from the Pause menu or by visiting a specific marker near the main Horizon Festival Site.
The initial list of cars available for purchase from the Backstage Shop includes a variety of classics and modern favorites, such as the 1980 Fiat 131 Abarth, 2021 BMW M4 Competition Coupe, 2013 Cadillac XTS Limousine, 1967 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL, 2016 Pagani Huayra BC, and the 2022 Rivian R1S. In addition to this nostalgic journey, the game introduces 10 new achievements exclusive to the Hide & Seek game mode, with rewards that will be automatically unlocked if you have already completed them.
For you who enjoy the Hide & Seek game mode, the “Back to the 90s” event brings even more excitement with the addition of five new achievements. These challenges, which include titles like “Hider and Seeker,” “Bounty Hunter,” and “Dedicated to the Cause,” offer you the chance to rack up your Gamescore by completing specific tasks as both the Hider and Seeker. For example, completing 25 matches as a Seeker earns you 20 points, while reaching a streak of 50 matches unlocks 50 points.
In true 90s fashion, the update also introduces a fun new collectible item—an Inflatable VHS. Although it lacks the high-definition visuals of today’s media, this inflatable VHS brings a wave of nostalgia to the game. It will be featured in a Festival Playlist Challenge during Week 3 of the Back to the 90’s Festival Playlist. You will also be able to use the Inflatable VHS as a prop in EventLab creations.
There is also a 90’s outfit which can be unlocked during the first week of the update. This outfit, with its vibrant colors and patterns, could easily land you a spot in a boy band from that era. To unlock the 90s Outfit, you must complete the #DressToImprezza Photo Challenge during the first week of the Festival Playlist. Additionally, three new badges have been added for you to earn: “Stay Cool” (by taking a photo of the 1997 Toyota Soarer 2.5 GT-T), “Cassetting the Trend” (by equipping the 90s Outfit), and “Would You Like Help” (by driving 10 miles in any 90s car).
Saving the best for the last, Back To The 90s adds four brand-new vehicles from the 90s era to Forza Horizon 5 as well. These vehicles not only bring back memories of the decade but also offer customization options that allow you to put your personal stamp on each car. The 1997 Toyota Soarer 2.5 GT-T is a prime example, representing 90s luxury with a 1JZ-GTE engine delivering 278 bhp. You can customize the Soarer with Origin Lab parts, including bumpers, side skirts, and rear wings.
Other notable cars include the 1998 Mitsubishi FTO GP Version R, which boasts a 2-liter V6 engine, and the 1990 Aston Martin Lagonda, one of the earliest cars to feature a digital instrument panel. Rounding out the lineup is the 1996 Subaru SVX, known for its aerodynamically efficient design and AWD system.
The Back To The 90’s Update will arrive in Forza Horizon 5 on October 8, 2024, with the first Festival Playlist going live from October 10, 2024. If you are still missing this week’s exclusive reward car, make sure to check out our Forza Horizon 5 FollowingTracks Photo Challenge Guide and Forza Horizon 5 Past The Unlimited Treasure Hunt Guide to nail those points and unlock the reward car. The update also brings a number of fixes and optimizations as well as part of the new update. These include:
Cars
- Fixed an issue with the 1994 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution III GSR where the yellow color was missing from the paint selection screen
Hide & Seek
- Fixed an issue in which players’ license plates weren’t resetting after exiting the game mode
- Fixed an issue in which players could activate the reset car feature while moving
- Fixed issues in which players weren’t able to join games of Hide & Seek through the Festival Playlist while on a Convoy
- Fixed an issue in which players starting Hide & Seek from a DLC map would be sent to the main map instead of starting the session
- Fixed accolades not being localized correctly in German, Danish, Spanish, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Dutch, Russian, and Swedish
We have also linked the entire Forza Horizon 5 livestream showcasing the new update. Check it out below:
What are your thoughts on the new Back To The 90’s update revealed for Forza Horizon 5 and are you excited to see Horizon Backstage return to the franchise? Let us know in the comments section below.