How Larry Chen Assisted the Forza Horizon 6 Team in Enhancing Photo Mode

      Screenshot by Adam Ismail

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      When Forza Horizon 6 officially launches on May 19 (you can check out our review in the meantime), you’ll receive missions from automotive photographer Larry Chen. However, Chen isn’t merely a non-playable character (NPC). He collaborated with the development team to enhance the game’s photo mode and to ensure that Forza Horizon 6 accurately reflects Japanese car culture.

      “I was able to connect the Forza team with my Canon friends because I really wanted to help enhance the realism of the photo mode,” Chen shared with The Drive in a recent interview. “Canon possesses extensive expertise in optics, photography, and lens behavior that surpasses my own knowledge.”

      That’s Larry Chen’s back in the FH6 mission, “Shutter Speed.” Forza Horizon 6

      “One suggestion I made was to incorporate genuine Canon focal lengths that photographers commonly use in the real world,” Chen mentioned. “I believed it would help players grasp the experience of shooting with actual cameras and lenses.”

      In addition to simulating the equipment, Chen aimed for the game segments he appears in—where he instructs the user to complete specific driving challenges for photo opportunities—to emulate the essence of his real-world photo adventures capturing stunning cars across Japan. Developers can replicate a car’s behavior from the driver’s perspective, but this initiative was focused on conveying the feelings of urgency and spontaneity that are vital to the experience behind the lens.

      Screenshot by Adam Ismail

      “One question that truly excited me was when they inquired if any part of my work was time-sensitive,” Chen recounted. “My response was essentially that everything is time-sensitive. Particularly in Japan, timing is everything. Whether it’s capturing rolling shots, locating a clear road with minimal traffic, awaiting the ideal lighting conditions, or timing a flyby shot perfectly with the Shinkansen in the background, a lot of what I do revolves around timing.”

      “A lot of those real-life situations actually influenced the gameplay and missions,” Chen added. “I described encounters I regularly face while shooting in Japan, and they were genuinely interested in translating that feeling into the gaming experience. What impressed me the most was their commitment to authenticity. They genuinely wanted this game to feel culturally accurate, not merely visually accurate.”

      Even with the early access of the game just launched, players have already captured some impressive shots. Now you know the secret behind them: