Delisted Open-World Racing Game Restores Online Features

Summary

• Despite being delisted in 2020, Forza Horizon 3's online services remain active.
• A community manager confirmed server restarts following player reports of unavailable features, demonstrating Playground Games' commitment to online service maintenance.
• Forza Horizon 5 recently surpassed 40 million players since its 2021 launch.

Forza Horizon 3's online services have unexpectedly been revived, much to the delight of fans, even though the game was delisted. Following the delisting, concerns arose mirroring the fate of Forza Horizon and Forza Horizon 2, whose online services were permanently shut down. However, a Playground Games community manager reassured players that Forza Horizon 3's online features are functional, following server restarts.

The Forza franchise began in 2005 with Forza Motorsport, followed by the first Forza Horizon in 2012. The latest installment, Forza Horizon 5, sparked controversy after its omission from The Game Awards 2024's "Best Ongoing Game" category. Despite this, Forza Horizon 5 boasts extensive post-launch content, including the popular Hide and Seek multiplayer mode, and has significantly outperformed previous titles in the series.

A Reddit post by JoaoPaulo3k highlighted community concerns regarding Forza Horizon 3's online functionality. A player reported inaccessible features, sparking fears of service termination. Playground Games' senior community manager promptly addressed these concerns, confirming server reboots and earning praise from the community. Forza Horizon 3 reached its "End of Life" status in 2020, meaning it's no longer available for purchase.

Forza Horizon 3's Online Services Persist Despite Delisting

The delisting of Forza Horizon 4 in December 2024, despite its success with over 24 million players since its 2018 launch, served as a stark reminder of the fleeting nature of online services. Playground Games' swift response to Forza Horizon 3's issues and the positive player feedback following the server restarts highlight the developer's commitment to its community.

Three years after its release, Forza Horizon 5 achieved a remarkable milestone, surpassing 40 million players. This makes it one of Xbox's most successful games. Anticipation for Forza Horizon 6 is already building, with many players hoping for a Japan setting. While Playground Games is currently focused on Fable, the possibility of a Japanese setting for the next Forza Horizon remains exciting.