Forza Horizon 6 devs explain moderation criteria following itasha ban controversy, but statement adds fuel to the fire with “glassy eyes” and “parted lips” cited as problematic

Playground Games recently issued a new statement addressing the controversy surrounding players being banned for creating “itasha”-style anime themed liveries in Forza Horizon 6. The statement was posted on October 30 via the game’s official Chinese-language social media channels, but appears to have been deleted shortly after, perhaps in response to criticism it attracted.

The Forza Horizon series allows players to create custom car designs using decals and paint, which they can share with other players to earn in-game currency. Amidst various customizations, itasha liveries featuring anime characters have long been a popular choice, especially among Japanese players.

However, back in September this year, players of Forza Horizon 6 reported an apparent new wave of bans targeting users who create itasha. One player even claimed to have been banned over a design that they had never shared with others. Some speculated that mass reporting by a particular community might be behind the bans, which also fueled suspicion that bans were being issued automatically based on the number of reports a player received, i.e., without human review.

In response, the developers updated Forza Horizon 6’s official Code of Conduct on September 24 to clarify that content is in fact reviewed by human moderators, and that the number of reports does not affect the priority given to a case or the severity of punishment measures taken. While this did little to dispel players’ dissatisfaction, the new October 30 statement has arguably gone down even worse in the community.

The statement began by acknowledging concern within the playerbase over the apparent wave of creator bans and content removals. However, it also maintained that, compared to the total volume of user-generated content and reports being made, the content and accounts subject to punishment represent only a small minority.

Specifically, the developers explained that more than 12.5 million pieces of user-generated content had been created over the past month, while approximately 21,900 reports had been submitted during the same period, amounting to around 0.1% of that figure. Only 3% of those reports resulted in disciplinary action, affecting fewer than 700 accounts. Most of the penalties were warnings or temporary suspensions, and of the accounts penalized, only 7% (approx. 50 users) were permanently banned (for designs depicting full nudity).

The developers also noted that, given the game’s international playerbase, they cannot ignore differences in regional cultures and standards, and that the game carries different age ratings depending on the market. For example, in Japan, Forza Horizon is rated CERO B (ages 12 and up), while it carries a PEGI 3 rating in Europe, USK 6 in Germany, and “E for Everyone” in North America. The statement maintained that all user-generated content must be suitable for the youngest eligible audiences, which essentially means it must be all-ages-friendly regardless of region.

The statement went on to reiterate the moderation process described in the Code of Conduct, emphasizing that AI is not used to review user-created designs. In principle, enforcement follows a gradual system, beginning with warnings and escalating to suspensions when a player repeats the same violations. On the other hand, they added that explicit sexual or otherwise extreme content would not be tolerated under any circumstances, and that players responsible for such content would be suspended immediately. Regarding penalties for unpublished designs, the developers explained that even designs that have not been shared can potentially be seen by other players once applied to a vehicle, and thus require action.

Notably, the statement also provided specific examples of criteria used to determine whether a design is inappropriate, including elements considered sexually suggestive, such as “glassy/half-lidded eyes” (original Chinese: 迷离醉眼), “slightly parted lips” (双唇微张), and “seductive clothing” (诱人的衣服). According to the statement, moderation decisions are not based only on the amount of exposed skin, but on multiple factors used to determine whether a character is being depicted in a sexualized manner or not. As an example, the developers cited that simply depicting characters wearing bikinis at a beach would generally be acceptable as long as the overall situation and poses are not provocative.

Through the statement, it appears Playground Games sought to emphasize that Forza Horizon 6 enforces moderation standards appropriate for an all-ages audience, and that punitive measures target only a small proportion of user-generated designs. However, the move was met with criticism, particularly among Chinese and Japanese players as translations of the post started to circulate.

For instance, even the emphasis on human moderation has been met with doubt about whether the company actually has the sufficient capacity to thoroughly review all reported content. The fact that the statement was published exclusively through the Chinese-language account has also drawn confusion. Some players have questioned whether the number of penalties disclosed is consistent with the volume of reports from players, although it is worth noting that the figures provided cover only a single month.

Some players have previously reported being punished for liveries featuring neutral content like automotive parts manufacturers’ logos. While the latest statement provided more specific moderation criteria, designs that appear unrelated to those criteria have reportedly being taken down as well, leaving some doubt about whether the stated standards align with what’s actually being enforced. Although disclosing figures related to reports and user bans offers some degree of transparency, the statement appears to have further antagonized some corners of the community. The apparent deletion of the original Chinese-language post shortly after its publication has also raised questions about the company’s approach to communicating with players. It remains to be seen whether the developers will offer further clarification on the matter.

Forza Horizon 6 is available for Windows (Steam/Microsoft Store) and Xbox Series X|S. A PlayStation 5 version is set to release later in January 2027.