"Time to flex and to race in Forza Horizon 5’s latest update: Midnight Muscle. This series brings back some fan-favorite Evolving World features such as the extended night cycles, Neon Airstrip, and neon decorations in racing events. Unlock two muscle cars from the modern era on Midnight Muscles Festival Playlist. A brand-new feature will let you pick your favorite cinematic Start Screen from previous Forza Horizon 5 content updates. Midnight Muscle also introduces the Festival Playlist Voting which lets players vote between two prior Festival Playlist to return to the game during the following month. Make those engines roar underneath the neon lights with Midnight Muscle!"—forza.net[1]
Series 43, dubbed "Midnight Muscle", is the forty-third Festival Playlist in Forza Horizon 5 held between January 30, 2025 to February 27, 2025.
It followed on from Series 42: "Horizon Extreme", and was proceeded by Series 44, which is a repeat "High Performance", on February 27, 2025 after it won a community vote against a repeat of "Italian Automotive".
Players can earn points (PTS) from completing objectives listed in the Festival Playlist. These objectives can include completing the weekly Forzathon, events, PR Stunts, and challenges listed in the Festival Playlist. Completed objectives in the Festival Playlist are highlighted in gold.
Series 43[]
Series 43 has a total of 278 points available for completing objectives in each of the series' four seasons in the Festival Playlist. Earning 222 points is required to complete the Series.
As players earn points by completing objectives in a season, they can earn two rewards by accumulating a certain amount of points during each season, and can earn two rewards by accumulating a certain amount of points over an entire series.
Season Progress Milestone
Reward
|
|---|
 Series Reward: Complete seasonal Festival Playlist objectives in this Series
Earn 80 PTS
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Series Reward: Complete seasonal Festival Playlist objectives in this Series
Earn 160 PTS
|
Summer / Wet Season
- Main article: Forza Horizon 5/Series 43/Summer Season
The Summer / Wet Season of Series 43, held from January 30, 2025 to February 6, 2025, includes up to 70 points available from completing objectives in the Festival Playlist, and two seasonal progress rewards. Earning 56 points is required to complete the season.
Autumn / Storm Season
- Main article: Forza Horizon 5/Series 43/Autumn Season
The Autumn / Storm Season of Series 43, held from February 6, 2025 to February 13, 2025, includes up to 70 points available from completing objectives in the Festival Playlist, and two seasonal progress rewards. Earning 56 points is required to complete the season.
Winter / Dry Season
- Main article: Forza Horizon 5/Series 43/Winter Season
The Winter / Dry Season of Series 43, held from February 13, 2025 to February 20, 2025, includes up to 70 points available from completing objectives in the Festival Playlist, and two seasonal progress rewards. Earning 56 points is required to complete the season.
Spring / Hot Season
- Main article: Forza Horizon 5/Series 43/Spring Season
The Spring / Hot Season of Series 43, held from February 20, 2025 to February 27, 2025, includes up to 70 points available from completing objectives in the Festival Playlist, and two seasonal progress rewards. Earning 56 points is required to complete the season.
Evolving World[]
Accolades[]
- Midnight Muscle Collector: Own the 2022 Dodge Challenger SRT Super Stock and the 1995 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra R
Cars[]
Festival Playlist[]
- 2022 Dodge Challenger SRT Super Stock: Earn 20 points in the Summer / Wet season in Series 43.
- 1995 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra R: Earn 20 points in the Autumn / Storm season in Series 43.
New Features[]
Cinematic Start Screen Selection[]
A selection of seven start screens have been made available to choose, as well as a "Shuffle" option, for when players launch the game. This setting is available to change through the "Extras" menu of the game's settings.
- Welcome To Mexico (Default)
- Welcome To Colorado (Forza Horizon) - featured during Week 1 of Series 13
- Welcome To Europe (Forza Horizon 2) - featured during Week 2 of Series 13
- Welcome To Australia (Forza Horizon 3) - featured during Week 3 of Series 13
- Welcome To the UK (Forza Horizon 4) - featured during Week 4 of Series 13
- Italian Automotive - featured during Series 24
- Horizon Retrowave - featured during Series 34
Festival Playlist Voting[]
Replacing the "Coming Soon" section of the Festival Playlist is a "Playlist Vote", starting from January 30, 2025. Two previous Festival Playlists will be featured in a community vote that takes place from the start of the Summer / Wet Season of the current Series, and close at the end of the Winter / Dry Season. Acting similar to the Backstage Pass, the playlist that received the most votes during the voting period will proceed the current Festival Playlist Series, with the winner being displayed under the Playlist Vote tab in the Festival Playlist during the Spring / Hot Season.[2]
Returning Features[]
- Extended Nights
- Neon Airstrip and Drone Show
- Neon "H" Cube Collectible
- Neon Tank Photo Decorations
- Neon-Decorated Races
References[]
- ↑ "It's Lights Out and Engines on with Midnight Muscle." . forza.net . Retrieved 01-24-2025.
- ↑ "Vote for the Festival Playlist You Want to Play on Forza Horizon 5!" . forza.net . Retrieved 01-24-2025.