Forza Horizon 6 Won't Let You Smash Up Cherry Blossom Trees
Kotaku • • technology
Key Points:
- Forza Horizon 6 allows players to smash nearly every environmental object, but Japan’s iconic cherry blossom trees are deliberately made indestructible to respect cultural significance.
- Design director Torben Ellert explained that while most trees are breakable for fun gameplay, cherry blossoms and certain temples or shrines are protected to avoid disrespecting Japanese culture.
- This decision follows controversies like Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed Shadows, where players could damage shrine props, leading to public criticism and a patch restricting such actions.
- The developers aimed to balance an authentic, destructible open world with cultural sensitivity, excluding certain sacred sites from player destruction.
- Players may not immediately notice the unbreakable cherry blossoms due to their beauty, but the design choice reflects a conscious effort to honor Japan’s heritage in the game.