Like most out in the gaming wild, I was expecting maybe to see the next Forza, not Forza Horizon 5 at this year's Xbox pre-E3 media briefing, especially when you consider most of developer Playground Games should be working on Fable, and yet here we are, picking our jaws up off the floor.

Arguably the most impressive visual and performance showcase for Microsoft's console(s) yet, Forza Horizon 5 is more than just near-perfect photo-realistic visuals -- it's a game that delivers performance, creativity and gravitas.

Your ultimate Horizon adventure awaits! Explore the vibrant and ever-evolving open-world landscapes of Mexico with limitless, fun driving action in hundreds of the world’s greatest cars.

And in both videos embedded below it's easy to get lost in the eye-candy, but we'd be remiss to ignore new additions and features, such as this being the biggest open-world in the series yet featuring the highest elevation ever recreated in the franchise. Forza Link is a smart system that not only helps you stay connected with friends and other players, but it actively helps you find activities you enjoy and then links you with players who also like the same things. It's Swipe Right, Horizon style. And finally Events Lab is a new user-created content toolset to let you make your own races, game modes and other experiences.

But enough from us, watch the videos embedded below, and mark your calendars for November 9.