Inspired by Hyundai's iconic 1974 Pony Coupe concept by Italian designer Goigetto Giugiaro, the 2026-bound Hyundai N Vision 74 is believed to be made in only 100 units. Out of these, only 70 will greet customers, while 30 will perform on track. However, Forza Horizon 5 has no limit to supply units. The superb Hyundai N Vision 74's electric powertrain can produce 671 horsepower and 663 lb-ft (898 Nm) of torque and weighs 5,450 lbs. or 2,472 kilograms. The best part is that you can always upgrade it.
The stock "Motor and Battery" parts from the tuning menu can be improved with up to three incremental levels. The first upgrade adds 107 horsepower and 106 lb-ft (144 Nm) of torque. The second raises the bar by 214 hp and 212 lb-ft (287 Nm) of torque. Finally, the ultimate upgrade will add 321 horsepower and 319 lb-ft (432 Nm) of torque to a max power output of 992 hp and 982 lb-ft (1,331 Nm) of twist.
The 5,450 lbs. weight stays the same unless you tinker with other customizations, such as the anti-roll bars, springs and dampers, and brakes. You can even remove the rear wing, which improves the launch but lowers performance in other departments like handling, acceleration, or braking.
The only downside is that the hydrogen fuel cell-propelled vehicle is limited to 155 mph or 250 kilometers per hour. This is as curious as it is odd because Hyundai could have pushed the envelope a bit, given that it's a fun arcade-style video game, far from a true-to-life simulator. It's not like you need to charge it via your USB controller cable.
Photo: Microsoft
The Hyundai N Vision 74, which you can unlock by playing in the Festival Playlist, is part of Forza Horizon 5's latest Retrowave update that introduces retro '80s themes like neon lights and synthwave music. The developers took the immersion factor seriously and made the '80s arcade-inspired neon-filled tracks react to the Retrowave music you're listening to on the new Wave radio station.
Aside from the Hyundai, we get even more superb-looking reward rides like the 2021 Lamborghini Countach LPI 800-4, 1986 BMW M635CSi, 1980 Lotus Esprit Turbo, and the 1986 Citroen BX 4TC. Not every car is available now, though. You can unlock the Countach during the Week 1 "Summer" Season from the Horizon Retrowave Festival Playlist between May 23 and May 30.
The BMW is in the Week 2 "Autumn" Season between May 30 and June 6. The Lotus (Week 3 "Winter" Season) is available from June 6 until June 13, while the Citroen is in the Week 4 "Spring" Season from June 13 to June 20. They all cost 20 PTS, aside from the Hyundai N Vision 74, which will have you rack up 80 points.
The 1-of-112 2021 Lamborghini Countach LPI 800-4 has a 6.5-liter V12 engine that produces 802 horsepower, propelling it from 0 to 60 mph in 2.8 seconds. The older gentleman, BMW M635CSi, makes 282 bhp and 246 lb-ft (333 Nm) of torque and has a top speed of 158 or 255 kph, which, weirdly enough, makes it faster than the N Vision.
Photo: Microsoft
The 1980 Lotus Esprit Turbo has a modest 2.2-liter engine that delivers 205 bhp and 194 lb-ft (263 Nm) of torque. The 1-of-62 1986 Citroen BX 4TC has a 2.1-liter straight-four-cylinder engine producing 197 hp and 217 lb-ft (294 Nm) of torque. It can go from 0 to 60 mph in 7.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 137 mph or 220 kph.
While everyone is still applauding FH5 even two and a half years after its release in November 2022, its more recently-launched sibling, Forza Motorsport, isn't doing so well in the public's eyes. It's still heavily criticized on Steam, with an abysmal 40% overall player review score. In contrast, FH5 is sitting on a very well-deserved 88%. Aside from waiting for discounts on Xbox or Steam, the cheapest way to play Forza Horizon 5 is on Game Pass.
First-party Xbox games like Grounded, Pentiment, Hi-Fi Rush, and Sea of Thieves have already arrived on PlayStation shores, and recent online chatter speaks of Forza Horizon 5 ending up on Sony's ecosystem as well. Given that PlayStation consoles are outselling the new-gen Xbox Series X|S three to one, it's surely a matter of time before those on-screen button prompts from FH5 carry the DualSense symbols.
The most recent high-profile game on Microsoft's gaming streaming service is Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2, which has an 81 Metacritic score on Xbox and PC. However, my two cents about Hellblade 2 are that it's pretentious, with mediocre gameplay and storyline. I also think the developers spent way too much time making it look gorgeous (and stunning it is) instead of making it a genuinely fun experience. The length of the game is a take-it-or-leave-it sort of affair, lasting about six hours.
Photo: Microsoft
Other current and upcoming Game Pass titles include Starfield, Manor Lords, Frostpunk 2, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, Hollow Knight: Silksong, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, Avowed, and Fable.
The latest and juiciest rumors involve Microsoft offering Valve a $16 billion offer. If they end up buying Steam along with all of Valve's IPs, the gaming industry will surely quake. Not just because of the massive landscape shift but because Microsoft's gaming division is so poorly mismanaged, it's mindboggling.
Aside from numerous delays and the bad-quality 1st-party games they deliver this generation, Microsoft recently closed four internal studios they had bought in the past few years. Given its massive IP legacy and earning potential, including ongoing online games like Counter-Strike 2, DOTA 2, and the upcoming Deadlock, it's unlikely Valve would end up at the guillotine, but why risk ruining a good thing if it isn't broken in the first place?
Valve president and co-founder Gabe Newell is wealthy beyond measure, with a Forbes-estimated net worth of $4.3 billion. In theory, he wouldn't need the money. However, 16 billion dollars in cash is a whole lot more than $4.3B in assets and whatnot, so he could be tempted. Will he risk his legacy for more money than one could imagine? We'll have to wait and see, but let's hope not. However, firing up CS2 with the Microsoft logo would be something to behold.
Codrin just loves American classics, from the 1940s and ‘50s, all the way to the muscle cars of the '60s and '70s. In his perfect world, we'll still see Hudsons and Road Runners roaming the streets for years to come (even in EV form, if that's what it takes to keep the aesthetic alive). Full profile
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