Open-World Racing Game Revives Online Play

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 continued online support. This proactive response contrasts sharply with the permanent closure of Forza Horizon and Forza Horizon 2's online services following their respective delistings.

The Forza franchise, launched in 2005 with Forza Motorsport, has seen significant growth, culminating in the hugely successful Forza Horizon 5. Released in 2021, Forza Horizon 5 recently surpassed 40 million players, solidifying its position as one of Xbox's top-performing titles. This success, however, didn't prevent the game from being controversially omitted from the Best Ongoing Game category at The Game Awards 2024, despite its extensive post-launch content and updates, including the popular Hide and Seek mode.

The recent reassurance regarding Forza Horizon 3's online services stemmed from a Reddit thread where players expressed concern over the game's functionality. A screenshot of this thread, shared by user JoaoPaulo3k, highlighted the community's anxiety. The timely and reassuring response from Playground's senior community manager, praised by players, not only resolved the technical issues but also demonstrated a commitment to maintaining the game's online experience. The delisting of Forza Horizon 3 in 2020 marked its "End of Life" status, removing it from the Microsoft Store.

The delisting of Forza Horizon 4 in December 2024, despite its impressive 24 million player count since its 2018 launch, served as a stark reminder of the transient nature of online services. Playground Games' swift action in addressing the Forza Horizon 3 situation, however, provides a welcome contrast and underscores their dedication to player satisfaction. The positive player response and increased online traffic following the server reboot further validates this commitment.

Looking ahead, Forza Horizon 5's monumental success sets a high bar for its anticipated successor, Forza Horizon 6. Longstanding fan requests for a Japanese setting hint at potential future locations, adding to the anticipation surrounding the next installment. While Playground Games is currently focused on the upcoming Fable title, speculation abounds regarding the development of Forza Horizon 6.