Forza Horizon 6 Dev Tackles Itasha Ban Backlash: What's Really Allowed?

Have you ever spent hours crafting the perfect anime livery in Forza Horizon 6, only to worry it might get you banned? You're not alone. For months, players have been up in arms over the game's moderation system, claiming Itasha-style designs—those eye-catching cars decked out with manga, anime, and game characters—are being unfairly targeted. Microsoft and Turn 10 Studios have finally responded with updated guidelines, but will they calm the storm?

Itasha, literally "painful car" for their bold, sometimes cringeworthy looks, are a beloved part of Japanese car culture. In Forza Horizon 6's Japan setting, you'd think they'd be a perfect fit. But according to a wave of social media and Steam complaints, many creators have faced bans, leading to calls for boycotts. "If you love Japanese car culture, don't buy it," one user warned. Speculation ran wild: were AI moderators behind it? Were certain groups mass-reporting designs? Could you get permabanned just for having a screenshot of someone else's Itasha? The fear was real.

Turn 10's updated code of conduct aims to set the record straight. First, they clarified that all reported content is reviewed by human moderators, not AI. "The number of reports on a piece of content does not affect its prioritization or position in the queue," the guidelines state. So mass reporting won't fast-track a ban. Second, they addressed Itasha directly: "Itasha style designs are permitted; however explicit sexual content and sexually suggestive content are forbidden." They note that provocative poses, gestures, facial expressions, and emphasis on specific body parts can count as suggestive.

But not everyone is satisfied. Japanese commenters on X called the criteria "too vague," with one saying, "It's just the same as saying 'whatever I think is bad is bad!'" Another pointed out that poses like the "I pose" or "M pose" would likely be banned, and that the British-influenced political correctness makes the rules hard to grasp. The concern is that female anime characters in certain poses—or even characters whose perceived age is ambiguous—could trigger bans, especially under the Zero Tolerance Policy.

That policy is no joke. First violations usually get a warning, but repeated offenses lead to longer suspensions. However, if your design contains child sexual content, explicit sexual content, explicit nudity, or other extreme violations like hate speech or terrorism, you'll be permabanned without prior infractions. This is why some Itasha creators are nervous: a single misstep could cost them their entire account. And it's not just about creating—players allege that even screenshots of rule-breaking cars can get you banned.

Over on Steam, Forza Horizon 6's Japanese review status has dropped to "Mixed," with a surge of negative reviews. Even positive ones criticize the online experience as "extremely poor quality," citing issues with season missions and credit collection. "I find myself wondering if they couldn't be a bit more considerate towards their users," one reviewer wrote. "Given that the game itself is of such high quality, I feel it's a great shame that its reputation is being undermined by these issues."

It's worth noting that iconography bans aren't new—previous Forza titles also banned symbols like the Confederate flag and Nazi imagery. But the perception is that Forza Horizon 6 is stricter than its predecessors, and players are still confused about what's allowed. Will Turn 10 refine the rules further, or will Itasha fans have to tread carefully? What do you think—are the new guidelines clear enough, or will you be holding off on your next design?