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 regarding server outages and feature unavailability were swiftly addressed by Playground Games' community manager, who confirmed a server reboot and reaffirmed the studio's commitment to maintaining online services. This contrasts sharply with the fate of Forza Horizon and Forza Horizon 2, whose online services were terminated after delisting.
The Forza franchise, launched in 2005 with Forza Motorsport, has seen significant growth, particularly with the Horizon series debuting in 2012. 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. Despite its omission from the Best Ongoing Game category at The Game Awards 2024, Forza Horizon 5 continues to receive substantial post-launch content and updates, including the popular Hide and Seek mode.
The recent reassurance regarding Forza Horizon 3's online servers stemmed from community concerns raised on Reddit. A player's inability to access certain features sparked fears of an imminent shutdown. The timely intervention of Playground Games' senior community manager, praised by the community, allayed these fears and highlighted the positive impact of the server reboot on player engagement. It's important to note that Forza Horizon 3 was officially designated "End of Life" in 2020, meaning its removal from the Microsoft Store.
The continued support for Forza Horizon 3 stands in contrast to the 2024 delisting of Forza Horizon 4, another highly successful title with over 24 million players (since its 2018 launch). Playground Games' responsive handling of the Forza Horizon 3 situation showcases its dedication to player satisfaction and community engagement.
Forza Horizon 5's remarkable success further underscores the franchise's popularity. With anticipation building for a potential Forza Horizon 6, speculation abounds regarding its setting, with many players hoping for a Japan-based installment. This, coupled with Playground Games' ongoing work on the Fable title, suggests a busy but promising future for the studio and the Forza franchise.
