In order to unlock features such as Online Multiplayer, the Festival Playlist, Gift Messages and DLC maps you will need to complete the following events in game.
- Start the game
- Do the initial setup for settings and graphics
- Pick a nickname
- Complete the drive to the Horizon Festival (This uses 4 cars and takes you to the first festival location)
- Customize your character
- Pick your first car from the 3 options
- 2020 Chevrolet C8 Corvette Stingray, 2021 Ford Bronco Badlands, 2020 Toyota Supra GR
- Personalize your license plate
- The map will auto open
- Set a route to the first showcase with the plane icon - the event will start automatically when you get to the location
- Drive to and finish the first showcase event (On a Wing and a Prayer)
- Return to the festival site (The pink H on the map)
- You should earn a skill point on the way
- Redeem your first skill point. (You can redeem more later in game by opening the menu, going to the cars tab, and selecting Car Mastery)
- At the festival site the map will auto open, you will be told about 2 different Horizon Story missions. (yellow icons)
- Select one Story mission to drive to
- #1 - El Camino - Into the Storm - Drive through a dust storm for photography
- #2 - Vocho - The Vocho - Tracking down a long lost Vocho
- Drive to your selected mission
- Complete the story mission
- New events will unlock such as the Rally Adventure map and the Hot Wheels Map (accessible with DLC)
- The next goal is to earn accolade points
- Do various races or events to earn these (races, PR stunts, speed traps, speed zones, drift zones etc)
- Open the main menu > Select Campaign tab > Select Accolades > Select an accolade to pin it so the requirements appear on the left in free roam
- Use the radio station when the tutorial appears (there's a message to tutorial this on the bottom of the screen)
- When you get the mission to meet Rami at the house go to the location
- Get your first house
- Place the first Expedition location
- This will unlock Horizon arcade menu
- Go to the first expedition location and complete the mission
- This will unlock the festival playlist
- Do another race event
- This will unlock forza link