Virtual Britain in Forza Horizon 4 amazes the imagination with its dynamic change of seasons. Every seven real-life days, the landscape, driving physics and available routes change dramatically, turning the game into an ever-changing adventure. However, the standard Horizon Life mode dictates its own rules, forcing all players into the same season at the same time.
Many riders wonder if it is possible to bypass this system and choose when to ride on spring fields and when on snowy tracks. Fortunately, the developers from Playground Games provided such a possibility, but it is hidden behind certain game mechanics. Season change is not available immediately, but requires fulfilling a number of conditions or switching game modes.
In this article we will analyze in detail all the available methods for managing your calendar. You'll learn how to switch to single mode for manual weather selection, what limitations exist in online mode, and how to optimize your driving experience for any climate.
Basics of the game's seasonal system
Fundamental feature Forza Horizon 4 is cyclical. The game divides the year into four stages: spring, summer, autumn and winter. Each season lasts exactly one week in real time. On Thursday at 14:30 GMT (or at the appropriate time in your local time), an automatic update occurs and the game world is transformed.
Dynamic weather affects not only the visual component, but also the physics of the car. In summer, the tracks are dry and provide maximum traction, while in autumn the roads become slippery due to rain and fallen leaves. In winter, many bodies of water freeze, opening up new paths, while dirt roads turn into dangerous icy tracks.
⚠️ Attention: In Horizon Life online mode, all players on the server are in the same season. You will not be able to change the season for yourself if you are in a shared world with other racers.
For those who prefer to explore the world alone or want to prepare for certain seasonal challenges, a flexible system of settings is provided. Understanding how it works cycle of seasons, is the key to effectively planning your gameplay and collecting all available rewards.
Season change in single player mode
If you want full control over the weather, you'll need to switch to single player mode. This allows you to ignore the global server loop and manually select a season at any time. To do this, open the pause menu, go to the “Menu” tab and select the “Find a new game” or “Change game mode” option.
In the list that appears, select the “Single Player” option. After loading, you will find yourself in an isolated world where time will be stopped the moment you exit online mode, or you can select a specific season when creating a session. In this mode manual season change becomes available through the main menu.
☑️ Preparing for the change of season
To change the season, press the menu button, go to the “Settings” section and find the “Season” item. Here you will see four icons corresponding to the seasons. By selecting the one you need, you will instantly be transported to the selected period. This is the ideal way to perform specific tasks, such as drifting on ice or high-speed racing on a dry track.
It is important to note that in single player mode, progress in seasonal challenges (Seasonal Playlist) is also saved, but it is updated only when the server season changes. However, you can take these challenges in any weather you choose, making life much easier for newbies.
Horizon Life Online Mode Limitations
Horizon Life mode is designed for social interaction and cooperative races. To ensure equal conditions for all participants, the developers synchronized the seasons for all players on the server. This means that if it is summer on the server, then you, your friend, and the random racer who overtook you on the track will have sunny weather.
Trying to change the season in this mode will get you nowhere. The season selection menu will be unavailable or blocked. The only way to influence the situation is to wait for the natural change of the week or switch to a different mode. Server synchronization - this is a strict limitation that cannot be circumvented without going into a single player game.
However, the online mode offers its advantages. When the season changes (usually on Thursday), live events are held, new Season Series routes are unlocked, and unique cars become available as rewards for completing weekly challenges.
If your goal is to participate in weekly competitions with other players, you will have to adapt to the current conditions. This adds an element of unpredictability and requires pilots to be versatile in their choice of cars and driving style.
Setting the time of day and weather
In addition to seasonality, Forza Horizon 4 A detailed time of day system has been implemented. You can race in the morning, afternoon, evening or night. Unlike seasons, the time of day can be changed much more often and more freely, even while in certain modes where this function is available.
To change the time of day, you need to go to the game settings menu. In the “Details” or “Game Settings” section (depending on the interface version) you can find the “Time of day” option. Here you can choose between a fixed time or a cyclic change of day and night.
| Parameter | Description of influence | Driving Features |
|---|---|---|
| Morning | Soft light, long shadows, often foggy | Good visibility, cool track |
| Day | Bright sun, maximum illumination | Standard clutch, rubber heating |
| Night | Darkness, headlights, city illumination | Difficult navigation, risk of aquaplaning |
Night racing presents its own challenge. Visibility is limited by car headlights, and on wet roads the glare from the asphalt can be disorienting. Night time is ideal for atmospheric rides in classic cars or for practicing emergency driving skills in poor visibility.
Dynamic weather phenomena are also worth mentioning. In some seasons (especially autumn and winter) thunderstorms, snowfalls and sharp gusts of wind are possible. These factors are not always dependent on the choice of time of day, but are part of the current season's simulation.
The influence of the season on physics and tracks
Change of seasons in Forza Horizon 4 - this is not just a cosmetic effect. This is a profound mechanical feature that changes the way you approach racing. In winter, for example, lakes and rivers freeze, which opens up access to new racing tracks laid directly on the ice. In summer, these same areas are water that is impossible to drive through.
Spring and autumn bring their own adjustments. Spring mud after the snow melts reduces traction on dirt sections, turning rally tracks into slippery ordeals. In autumn, fallen leaves on the asphalt act as a lubricant, requiring the player to be more careful when turning.
Secret locations in winter
Winter unlocks several secret bonus boards and fast routes that are physically inaccessible at other times of the year due to water or tall grass. Be sure to explore the map in December-January.
For professional players, knowing the physics of each season is critical. The selection of tires (if the appropriate setting of the assistants or in simulator mode is used) and the suspension settings must take into account the temperature of the road surface. Winter tires (in the context of difficulty settings) or just careful throttle work is necessary to win winter races.
In addition, some cars perform better in outdoor conditions. Powerful all-wheel drive monsters are indispensable in the snow, while lightweight rear-wheel drive roadsters perform best on dry summer asphalt.
Seasonal Challenges and Rewards
Each week, the game offers players a new set of challenges known as the Seasonal Playlist. To access the full list of rewards, you must achieve a certain number of PRs in each of the four types of events: road racing, cross-country racing, drifting and speed stages.
Completing these tasks allows you to receive new cars, items of clothing, horns (signals) and emotes (emotions) as a reward. The most valuable prizes, including exclusive cars, are usually available for 20,000 PR at the end of the season.
⚠️ Attention: If you do not manage to complete the seasonal playlist before the week changes, your progress bars will burn out and you will only receive consolation prizes. Hurry up to claim your reward before Thursday!
Therefore, having a diverse fleet covering different eras and types of transport is a prerequisite for successfully completing all seasonal challenges.
Keep at least one car of each class (S1, S2, A, B, C, D) in your garage. This will save time when selecting a machine for weekly testing.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to change the season online with friends?
No, in Co-op mode or in the open world of Horizon Life, the season is determined by the server and is the same for everyone. To change the season, the session host needs to go to the main menu and switch to the “Single Player” mode, and then invite friends again, but then it will no longer be a standard online mode, but a private session with manual settings.
How often do seasons change in Forza Horizon 4?
The season change occurs strictly once a week in real time. The update always happens on Thursday at 14:30 Greenwich Time (GMT). Depending on your time zone, it could be a Thursday afternoon, evening, or even night.
What happens if I don't play for a whole week?
If you miss a week, you simply won't receive the missed seasonal playlist reward. When you enter the game, there will already be a new season there. PR points do not accumulate while you are offline. However, you can always play Single Player and select any season to complete old quests if they are still in the archive, but you will only receive weekly rewards for the current week for the current server season.
Does the change of season affect car sales?
The change of season does not have a direct impact on the auction (Auction House). Prices are determined by the supply and demand of players. However, indirectly, demand may increase for cars that are ideal for the current season (for example, rally cars in winter), which may temporarily increase their value.
Is it possible to turn off the change of seasons completely?
In Horizon Life mode, you cannot disable the change of seasons, as this is the core mechanic of the game. In Single Player mode, you can simply choose not to change the season manually, and the season will remain locked to your chosen value until you change it yourself.
Managing seasons in Forza Horizon 4 is only possible in single player mode through the settings menu. Online, the time of year is dictated by the server and changes automatically once a week.