Delisted Open-World Racing Game Restores Online Features

Forza Horizon 3's Online Persistence: A Community Triumph

Despite its 2020 delisting, Forza Horizon 3's online functionality remains active, much to the delight of its player base. Initial concerns arose when players reported inaccessible features, sparking fears of an imminent shutdown—a fate that befell earlier Forza Horizon titles. However, a Playground Games community manager swiftly intervened, confirming a server reboot and reassuring players of the game's ongoing online support. This action underscores Playground Games' commitment to maintaining online services, even for delisted titles.

The Forza franchise, launched in 2005 with Forza Motorsport, has seen significant growth, culminating in the highly successful Forza Horizon 5. Released in 2021, Forza Horizon 5 recently surpassed 40 million players, solidifying its position as one of Xbox's most successful titles. This success, however, didn't prevent controversy surrounding its exclusion from The Game Awards 2024's "Best Ongoing Game" category.

The recent incident concerning Forza Horizon 3's online services began with a Reddit post expressing concerns about the game's future. A player's inability to access certain features prompted worries about a service termination. The timely response from Playground's senior community manager, praised by the community, allayed these fears and highlighted the positive impact of the server reboot on player engagement. It's noteworthy that Forza Horizon 3 was declared "End of Life" in 2020, meaning its removal from the Microsoft Store.

The continued support for Forza Horizon 3 stands in contrast to the delisting of Forza Horizon 4 in December 2024, despite its impressive 24 million player count since its 2018 release. Playground Games' proactive response to player concerns regarding Forza Horizon 3 offers a positive counterpoint to this earlier decision. The increased player activity following the server reboot further reinforces the value of this ongoing support.

Forza Horizon 5's monumental success, reaching over 40 million players within three years of its launch, underscores the enduring popularity of the franchise. Anticipation for Forza Horizon 6 is high, with many players advocating for a Japanese setting. While Playground Games is currently focused on the upcoming Fable title, speculation abounds regarding the potential location and features of the next Forza Horizon installment.