Forza Horizon 5 players have an impressive list of vehicles from which to choose. Some can be grabbed through the luck of wheelspins while others have to be earned or purchased with credits. But, even with the game's slower vehicles, there is a way Forza Horizon 5 players can get a rapid start in a drag race: launch control.
Even those who have been familiar with the series for a while may not know how to activate this feature. Fortunately, launch control in Forza Horizon 5 is relatively easy to access. For those players looking to get to grips with launch control and master it, this guide is here to help.
How to Unlock Launch Control
Launch control is available for anyone who drives their vehicle with a manual transmission or a manual transmission with a clutch. This feature is within the gameplay settings and is relatively easy to access. The switch in gameplay, however, requires a bit more focus for beginner players of Forza Horizon 5. Unfortunately, because launch control requires a gear change to activate, automatic transmissions are not an option.
With either of those options chosen, players can start the process by being completely stationary. Then, they have to change up to second gear (for Xbox players this is done with the B button) and then back down to first (with the X button). After this, they must engage the handbrake (the A button) and fully apply the throttle (with the Right Trigger). With that, launch control has been activated and players just need to release the handbrake to set off into any of Forza Horizon 5's biomes at speed.
The tell tale sign that launch control has been activated is that the RPM gauge will sit at around 2500 while the handbrake is engaged. If the RPM gauge is hitting the limiter instead then some step must have been skipped in the process.
When to Use Launch Control
Launch control can give quite the advantage to players who have mastered it. The system, based on the one in actual cars, eliminates wheelspin and aids traction, giving the driver a rapid start without wasting any horsepower or time on burnouts. Though it looks much less dramatic than a regular start, launch control can be the difference between a loss and a win in one of Forza Horizon 5's many drag races.
This feature is most useful in multiplayer matches and for the special event PR events in the game. Players will likely already know the map of Forza Horizon 5 and gotten to know some of its airstrips and drag race opportunities and these are also prime areas for launch control. Unfortunately, though, launch control doesn't help in standard races in the game. These races always begin as cars are rolling off of the line and, therefore, give no time for the use of launch control.
Forza Horizon 5 is available for PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.