Open-World Racer Revives Online Gameplay

Despite being delisted in 2020, Forza Horizon 3's online functionality persists, much to the delight of its players. A recent community manager intervention confirmed server restarts following reports of inaccessible features, underscoring Playground Games' ongoing commitment to maintaining online services. This is a welcome contrast to the permanent shutdown of online services for Forza Horizon and Forza Horizon 2 after their delistings.

The Forza series, launched in 2005 with Forza Motorsport, has seen continued success, culminating in the recent release of Forza Horizon 5. Forza Horizon 5, launched in 2021, recently surpassed 40 million players, solidifying its place as one of Xbox's most successful games. This success, however, didn't prevent the game from being controversially omitted from the Best Ongoing Game category at The Game Awards 2024. The game boasts extensive post-launch content and notable updates, including the popular Hide and Seek mode.

A Reddit thread, initiated by JoaoPaulo3k, highlighted player concerns about the potential end of Forza Horizon 3's online services. A user reported difficulties accessing certain features, sparking fears of an imminent shutdown. However, Playground Games' senior community manager swiftly addressed these concerns, confirming server reboots and effectively calming player anxieties. The game's 2020 "End of Life" status, which removed it from the Microsoft Store, initially fueled these concerns.

The delisting of Forza Horizon 4 in December 2024, despite its 24 million player base since its 2018 release, served as a stark reminder of the potential for online service termination. Playground Games' proactive response to the Forza Horizon 3 situation is therefore particularly reassuring, especially given the positive player response following the server restarts.

Forza Horizon 5's remarkable success, exceeding 40 million players within three years of its launch, further underscores the franchise's enduring popularity. Anticipation for Forza Horizon 6 is already building, with many players hoping for a long-requested Japan setting. While Playground Games is currently focused on the upcoming Fable title, the possibility of a Japanese setting for the next Forza Horizon game remains a strong contender.