Despite being delisted in 2020, Forza Horizon 3's online services remain operational, much to the delight of its player base. A recent community manager intervention confirmed server restarts following player reports of inaccessible features, underscoring Playground Games' ongoing commitment to maintaining online functionality. This stands in contrast to the permanent shutdown of online services for Forza Horizon and Forza Horizon 2 after their delistings.
The Forza franchise, launched in 2005 with Forza Motorsport, has seen continued success, culminating in the recent release of Forza Horizon 5. This latest title, boasting over 40 million players since its 2021 launch, recently generated discussion after its omission from The Game Awards 2024's "Best Ongoing Game" category. Forza Horizon 5's extensive post-launch content and updates, including the Hide and Seek mode, have solidified its position as a major player in the racing game genre.
A Reddit thread, initiated by user JoaoPaulo3k, highlighted player concerns regarding the potential end of Forza Horizon 3's online services. A Playground Games senior community manager swiftly addressed these concerns, announcing server reboots and reassuring players of the service's continued availability. The game's 2020 "End of Life" status, resulting in the removal of the base game and DLC from the Microsoft Store, had fueled these anxieties.
The delisting of Forza Horizon 4 in December 2024, despite its impressive 24 million player count since its 2018 release, served as a stark reminder of the potential for online service termination. Playground Games' prompt response to the Forza Horizon 3 situation, along with the reported increase in player traffic following the server restarts, is a positive sign for the community.
Forza Horizon 5's remarkable success, surpassing 40 million players in just three years, cements its place as one of Xbox's most successful titles. Anticipation is building for Forza Horizon 6, with many players expressing a desire for a Japanese setting. While Playground Games is currently focused on Fable, speculation suggests that the next Forza Horizon installment may be in development.
