Authentically celebrating the culture of Mexico in Forza Horizon 5


When it comes to designing and developing the games in the Forza Horizon series, there is one thing the Playground Games team prioritizes above all else: an authentic, open world. Great cars and great music are certainly important, however those elements alone are not what provide an authentic Forza Horizon experience. With past games in Great Britain, Australia, Southern Europe and Colorado in the US, the team set their sights on Mexico for Forza Horizon 5.

From the beginning, the team took deliberate and intentional steps to ensure its vision of Mexico in Forza Horizon 5 it’s as close to the real thing as possible, especially when it comes to celebrating the country’s incredibly rich culture. “Our goal to Forza Horizon 5 is to go beyond capturing the characteristic landscapes of Mexico to give players the opportunity to experience the people and traditions of the country, ”said Mike Brown, Creative Director of Forza Horizon 5 at Playground Games. “We value the Mexican and Latino community and want to make sure that we are authentically celebrating the diverse community in the most sincere and respectful way possible.”

To help bring this world to life, Playground Games hired a consultant named Lalo Alcaraz (writer for Nickelodeon’s “The Casagrandes” and Mexican culture consultant for the Pixar film “Coco”), to help interpret the team. de México, with their contributions that resulted in changes to the campaign, characters, and general description of Mexico. He played an important role in bringing the game’s characters to life and in bringing deeply important local customs to Forza Horizon 5.

“I am a cultural consultant who can advise you on whether something is authentic or not, but then I can propose alternatives on the spot,” Alcaraz said. “I can do it with the voice of the character because I am also a writer. And that’s my favorite part. “

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Alcaraz revealed that he did everything possible to share equal parts calm and caution. He and the team took great care to bring Mexican authenticity to the game and achieve a lively and vibrant tone. Forza Horizon he is known for all the art, music, and stories in the game (such as the Lucha de Carretera and Vocho stories).

In addition to writing, Playground wanted to bring Mexico’s vibrant and diverse cultural heritage to life with traditional wall art. As a result, the game features original art for the game created by Mexican artists from different regions of the country. This resulted in a collaboration that includes famous artists such as Farid Rueda, Star27, Spaik, senkoe, Raul Urias, and Cix.

In designing the murals, each artist took their own unique approach and drew on their individual perspectives and inspiration. Rueda, for example, combined Mexican colors and shapes with universally recognizable animals such as lions and bears to help players around the world connect with Mexico and underline what makes the region and its culture truly special. Urias chose to focus on elements of his home in Chihuahua, including the Tarahumara culture, landscapes, pottery, and flora and fauna. By creating a portrait of what Chihuahua represents to him, Urias wants to share the unique aspects of Chihuahua that cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

In creation Forza Horizon 5, Playground sent teams to Mexico to visit all the game locations for inspiration and to make sure they accurately depict the land, weather, changing seasons, sounds, and more. They also met with residents to make sure this beautiful country, its community, and its culture are represented in the right way. Creative Director Mike Brown said it best: “Above all, Forza Horizon 5 Is a celebration. It is a celebration of music, it is a celebration of cars and it is a celebration of Mexico ”.

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Forza Horizon 5 Standard Edition

Xbox game studios

$ 59.99

Your latest adventure on the horizon awaits you! Explore the vibrant and ever-changing open world landscapes of Mexico with fun and unlimited driving action in hundreds of the best cars in the world.


Forza Horizon 5 Deluxe Edition

Xbox game studios

$ 79.99

INCLUDES CAR PASS Your latest adventure in Horizon awaits you! Explore the vibrant and ever-changing open world landscapes of Mexico with fun and unlimited driving action in hundreds of the best cars in the world. The Deluxe Edition includes the full game and Car Pass.


Forza Horizon 5 Premium Edition

Xbox game studios

$ 99.99

INCLUDES EARLY ACCESS, TWO EXPANSIONS, VIP, CAR PASS AND WELCOME PACKAGE Your latest Horizon adventure awaits! Explore the vibrant and ever-changing open world landscapes of Mexico with fun and unlimited driving action in hundreds of the best cars in the world. The Premium Edition includes early access to the full game, allowing you to play four days early starting on November 5, 2021. Also included are welcome pack, Car Pass, VIP membership, and two game expansions when available .





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