Open-World Racing Game Revives Online Gameplay

Forza Horizon 3's Online Functionality Remains Active Despite Delisting

Despite being removed from digital storefronts in 2020, Forza Horizon 3's online services continue to operate, much to the delight of players. This stands in contrast to the fate of Forza Horizon and Forza Horizon 2, whose online services were permanently shut down after delisting. Recent concerns regarding inaccessible features prompted a response from Playground Games, confirming a server reboot and reaffirming their commitment to maintaining online functionality.

The Forza franchise, launched in 2005 with Forza Motorsport, has seen continued success, most recently with Forza Horizon 5's achievement of over 40 million players since its 2021 release. This latest installment, while lauded for its extensive post-launch content and updates (including the Hide and Seek mode), faced some controversy for its exclusion from the Best Ongoing Game category at The Game Awards 2024.

The reassurance regarding Forza Horizon 3's online services came directly from Playground Games' senior community manager, who addressed player anxieties on Reddit. A post expressing concern about the game's online future prompted the community manager's intervention, confirming the server restart and alleviating fears of an imminent shutdown. The delisting in 2020 marked the game's "End of Life" status, meaning it's no longer available for purchase, but the online experience persists.

Forza Horizon 4, another successful title with over 24 million players, met a similar fate with its delisting in December 2024. However, the swift and positive response to the Forza Horizon 3 situation demonstrates Playground Games' commitment to its player base and highlights the positive impact of maintaining online services, even for older titles. The increased player activity following the server reboot further underscores this point.

Forza Horizon 5's remarkable player count solidifies its position as one of Xbox's most successful games. Anticipation is building for the next installment, potentially titled Forza Horizon 6, with many players hoping for a Japan setting. While Playground Games is currently focusing on the upcoming Fable title, speculation suggests that development on Forza Horizon 6 may already be underway.