The Italian Exotics update did not just add Ferrari and Lamborghini cars. It quietly changed one of the biggest complaints in Forza Horizon 6: Drivatar behaviour.
Players have been asking:
Are AI cars less aggressive?
Did dive bombs get reduced?
Is Expert difficulty easier now?
Are races finally cleaner?
This guide explains what changed, how it affects each difficulty level, and whether you should adjust your settings.
Did Italian Exotics Actually Change AI?
Here's the quick answer before we dive deep:
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Did AI get slower? | ❌ No |
| Did AI become easier? | ⚠️ Slightly less aggressive |
| Are corner crashes reduced? | ✅ Yes |
| Should you lower difficulty? | ❌ Not automatically |
| Biggest improvement? | Cleaner corner behaviour |
Italian Exotics AI Update Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Update | Forza Horizon 6 Italian Exotics Update |
| Version | 398.92.0 |
| Main AI Change | Reduced excessive AI collisions on corner entries |
Quick Answer: Did the AI Actually Get Better?
Early player feedback suggests cleaner AI behaviour after the Italian Exotics update, especially around corner entries.
The official patch notes confirm one headline AI change: improvements have been made to reduce excessive AI collisions on corner entries.
But "improved" is a better word than "fixed." The AI hasn't been completely rebuilt — races are cleaner and more predictable, not suddenly easy.
What Does This Mean For Your Races?
| Player Type | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| New players | Keep current difficulty |
| Stuck on Highly Skilled | Try again after update |
| Expert players | Expect cleaner battles, not easier races |
| Unbeatable players | Keep your setup, AI pace remains strong |
What Changed in the Italian Exotics Update?
The Italian Exotics update includes one key AI improvement: reducing excessive AI collisions when entering corners.
| AI Area | Before Update | After Update |
|---|---|---|
| Corner entry collisions | Frequent AI contact, aggressive punting | Reduced excessive collisions, cleaner racing |
| First corner chaos | AI often dive-bombed braking zones | More controlled entries |
| Difficulty balance | Inconsistent between races | More predictable behaviour |
What's also important: The update includes fixes for exploits that affected competitive play, including XP and credit farming, Skill Points farming, and Eliminator matchmaking exploits. All Rivals leaderboards have been reset to remove glitched times.
Why Players Wanted FH6 AI Changes
Since launch, the Forza community has been vocal about AI frustrations. Here's what players actually complained about:
1. The "Torpedo" Drivatars
Many Forza players described aggressive AI braking behaviour as "torpedo AI" because opponents would dive into corners without respecting racing lines.
"The ramming is the worst thing about it. They go out of their way to ram you off the track and it seems their main purpose is stopping you catching up to the top 3 cars."
2. The Infamous Bowie Knife99
One Drivatar name, Bowie Knife99, became a community meme because players associated it with aggressive racing behaviour. Even Xbox UK's official account posted: "Happy Bank Holiday Monday to everyone except bowie knife99".
While the update does not target specific Drivatar names, it addresses the aggressive corner behaviour that made certain AI opponents notorious.
3. Corner Exit Contact
The biggest frustration wasn't losing speed to faster AI — it was losing races because an AI car hit the player during a normal corner.
"The AI just doesn't yield in corners at all. Often you can overtake it just before a corner, only for it to duck back to the inside and divebomb the corner with no chance of making it."
This is the type of corner-entry aggression the Italian Exotics update appears designed to address.
How Each Difficulty Feels After the Update
| Difficulty | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Tourist | Very easy, AI mistakes obvious | Mostly unchanged |
| Novice | Forgiving, little challenge | Mostly unchanged |
| Average | Moderate AI pace | Similar to before |
| Above Average | Some AI aggression | Slightly cleaner |
| Highly Skilled | Random AI contact could ruin races | More consistent, fewer crashes |
| Expert | Competitive but chaotic | Cleaner battles, less contact |
| Pro | Fast AI with aggressive contact | More predictable behaviour |
| Unbeatable | Extremely challenging, sometimes felt unfair | Still difficult, but more predictable |
Did Drivatars Become Easier?
No — they became less frustrating.
The distinction matters. The AI isn't suddenly slower or dumber. Instead:
✅ AI cars are less aggressive when braking for corners
✅ Fewer multi-car pileups in congested areas
✅ Overtaking feels smoother and more realistic
✅ Races feel less decided by random collisions
The core difficulty remains intact — competitive AI still puts up a fight. But the "torpedo" AI that would ram you off the line has been dialled back.
Expert difficulty feels less chaotic rather than dramatically easier. The AI is still competitive, but races are less decided by random collisions. Corner entries are cleaner, meaning your driving line matters more than avoiding AI punts.
Pro and Unbeatable AI remain challenging. What's improved is corner consistency and predictable behaviour — not pace.
Is FH6 AI Easier After the Italian Exotics Update?
Many players searching for the FH6 AI update want to know whether races became easier after Italian Exotics. The answer is no. Drivatars still have the same overall pace, but improved corner behaviour makes races feel more fair and predictable.
Does the AI Update Change Online Racing?
| Mode | Impact |
|---|---|
| Solo races | Biggest improvement — cleaner corner behaviour |
| Rivals | No AI involved — leaderboards reset instead |
| Online Multiplayer | No direct AI effect — human opponents unchanged |
| EventLab AI races | Cleaner behaviour due to core AI changes |
The AI improvements are most noticeable in solo races against Drivatars. Online multiplayer remains unchanged because you're racing against human players.
⚠️ Why were Rivals leaderboards reset?
The reset wasn't caused by the AI improvements alone. Playground Games wiped the Rivals leaderboards after patching multiple exploits that produced unrealistic lap times, including AFK Auto Drive farming, other leaderboard glitches, and runs set before the Drag Tire physics rebalance. The goal was to give everyone a clean competitive starting point.
Do You Need Different Cars After the AI Update?
Since racing feels cleaner, you can focus more on building for pace rather than survival:
| Situation | Better Choice |
|---|---|
| AI still pushing you wide | More grip-focused tune |
| Losing on straights | Higher power build |
| Expert feels harder | AWD + handling setup |
| Pro feels inconsistent | Improve braking points, not build |
The key insight: With cleaner AI behaviour, corner exits are where you can now make time. Focus on builds that prioritise exit speed rather than pure top-end.
Should You Change Difficulty?
| Your Experience | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| AI still crashing into you | Lower difficulty one step |
| Winning every race easily | Increase difficulty |
| Expert feels inconsistent | Try different car builds |
| Road races too hard | Focus on handling builds |
| Races feel cleaner and more fun | Keep your current setting |
The goal isn't to make the AI easier — it's to make racing feel fairer. If you're enjoying races more post-update, you're in the right place.
Practical Test Checklist
To help you evaluate the changes yourself, try these tests:
| Race Type | What to Look For |
|---|---|
| Road Racing | Cleaner corner entries, less AI contact |
| Street Racing | AI braking behaviour through traffic |
| Dirt Racing | AI stability on loose surfaces |
| Cross Country | AI collision avoidance on rough terrain |
| Sprints | Race start behaviour improvements |
| Circuits | Predictable AI through repeated corners |
Compare your experience before and after the update — the difference should be noticeable, particularly at corner entries.
The AI changes are only one part of Series 3. Players looking for the new Ferrari and Lamborghini additions should also check our complete Italian Exotics car unlock guide.
FAQ
Did Forza Horizon 6 fix the AI?
Improved, not fixed. The update reduces excessive AI collisions on corner entries. Drivatars are less aggressive, but the AI hasn't been completely rebuilt.
Is Expert difficulty easier now?
Less chaotic, not easier. Expert difficulty feels more predictable — races are less decided by random collisions.
Are Pro and Unbeatable AI still hard?
Yes. The AI pace remains challenging at high difficulties. What's improved is corner behaviour and consistency.
Why are Forza Horizon 6 Drivatars so aggressive?
This was a community complaint since launch. The Italian Exotics update directly addresses excessive AI collisions on corner entries. Players are reporting cleaner racing as a result.
Did the AI get nerfed?
No — it's less frustrating, not slower. The core difficulty isn't dramatically easier, but racing feels fairer.
Can AI still ram you in Forza Horizon 6?
Yes. The Italian Exotics update reduces excessive corner collisions, but Drivatars can still make contact during aggressive racing situations.
Should I increase difficulty after the AI update?
Only if you are consistently winning. The update improves fairness more than speed, so many players should keep their existing difficulty.
Does AI difficulty affect credits?
Yes — higher difficulty levels offer increased Credit bonuses. However, these bonuses remain unchanged after the update.
Why were Rivals leaderboards reset?
Playground Games wiped the Rivals leaderboards after patching multiple exploits that produced unrealistic lap times, including AFK Auto Drive farming, other leaderboard glitches, and runs set before the Drag Tire physics rebalance. The goal was to give everyone a clean competitive starting point.
Final Verdict
The Italian Exotics update does not completely reinvent Forza Horizon 6's AI, but it addresses one of the community's biggest frustrations: chaotic corner behaviour.
Drivatars are not suddenly easy, but races feel cleaner and more predictable. The "torpedo" AI that would ram you off the line has been dialled back, making overtaking smoother and more realistic.
If you enjoyed Forza Horizon 6 before but found AI races frustrating, this update is worth revisiting. The changes are subtle but meaningful — less random contact means your driving skill matters more.
More Italian Exotics Guides
If you found this guide helpful, check out our other Series 3 coverage:
Forza Horizon 6 Italian Aftermarket Guide — Rare Wheelspin Cars, Refresh Schedule & Buying Strategy
Forza Horizon 6 Italian Aftermarket Tier List (2026): Best Rare Cars to Buy, Rankings & Credit Guide
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