Open-World Racing Game Reinstates Online Connectivity

Forza Horizon 3 Online Services Remain Active Despite Delisting

Despite being removed from sale in 2020, Forza Horizon 3's online features continue to function, much to the delight of players. This commitment to maintaining online services was recently reaffirmed by a community manager after players reported issues accessing certain features. This stands in contrast to the previous shuttering of online services for Forza Horizon and Forza Horizon 2 after their delistings.

The Forza franchise, launched in 2005 with Forza Motorsport, has seen significant growth, culminating in the hugely popular Forza Horizon 5. Released in 2021, Forza Horizon 5 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 omitted from the Best Ongoing Game category at The Game Awards 2024, despite its extensive post-launch content and updates, including the addition of Hide and Seek multiplayer.

The recent confirmation of Forza Horizon 3's server reboot followed concerns raised on the Forza subreddit. A player's inability to access certain online functions sparked fears that the servers were being shut down. The timely intervention of Playground Games' senior community manager, who addressed these concerns and confirmed the reboot, was met with significant appreciation from the community. The game's 2020 "End of Life" status, which removed it from digital storefronts, had fueled these anxieties.

The Delisting of Forza Horizon 4

The positive response to the Forza Horizon 3 situation contrasts with the 2024 delisting of Forza Horizon 4, another highly successful game with over 24 million players since its 2018 release. Playground Games' swift action and the resulting increase in player traffic after the server reboot highlight their dedication to supporting their older titles.

Forza Horizon 5's Continued Success

Forza Horizon 5's remarkable achievement of over 40 million players three years post-launch underscores the enduring popularity of the series. Anticipation is building for the next installment, likely titled Forza Horizon 6, with many players hoping for a long-requested Japan setting. While Playground Games is currently focused on completing the upcoming Fable game, speculation about the next Horizon title continues to thrive.