Open-World Racing Game Revives Online Functionality

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 function, much to the delight of its player base. This stands in contrast to the fate of the original Forza Horizon and Forza Horizon 2, whose online services were permanently shut down after delisting. Recent concerns raised by players regarding inaccessible features prompted a response from Playground Games. A community manager confirmed that the servers had been restarted, assuring players of the ongoing commitment to maintaining online functionality.

The Forza franchise, launched in 2005 with Forza Motorsport, has seen significant growth, with the Forza Horizon series becoming particularly popular. The latest installment, Forza Horizon 5, released in 2021, recently surpassed 40 million players, solidifying its place as one of Xbox's most successful titles. This success, however, didn't prevent Forza Horizon 5 from being controversially excluded from the Best Ongoing Game category at The Game Awards 2024, despite its extensive post-launch content and updates, including the addition of the Hide and Seek multiplayer mode.

A Reddit post highlighted player concerns about the potential end of Forza Horizon 3's online services. A user reported difficulty accessing certain features, sparking worries within the community. However, Playground Games' senior community manager swiftly addressed these concerns, announcing a server reboot and effectively quelling the fears. The game's 2020 "End of Life" status signified the cessation of sales for the base game and its DLC on the Microsoft Store.

Forza Horizon 3's Online Persistence: A Positive Sign for the Franchise

The swift and positive response to these concerns contrasts with the 2024 delisting of Forza Horizon 4, another successful title with over 24 million players since its 2018 launch. Playground Games' proactive approach in addressing Forza Horizon 3's online issues, and the subsequent increase in player activity following the server reboot, are encouraging signs for the franchise's future.

Forza Horizon 5's remarkable achievement of over 40 million players since its 2021 release further underscores the series' popularity. This success has naturally fueled anticipation for the next installment, likely titled Forza Horizon 6. With persistent fan requests for a Japan setting, speculation abounds regarding Playground Games' future plans, potentially balancing development of Forza Horizon 6 with their work on the upcoming Fable title.