Despite being delisted in 2020, Forza Horizon 3's online services remain operational, much to the delight of its player base. This continued support was recently confirmed by a community manager who addressed player concerns about inaccessible features, clarifying that servers had been rebooted. This action underscores Playground Games' commitment to maintaining online functionality for the game. This stands in contrast to the fate of Forza Horizon and Forza Horizon 2, whose online services were permanently shut down after delisting.
The Forza franchise, launched in 2005 with Forza Motorsport, has seen significant growth, culminating in the recent success of Forza Horizon 5. Released in 2021, Forza Horizon 5 boasts over 40 million players, making it one of Xbox's most successful titles. This success, however, didn't prevent the game from being controversially omitted from the Best Ongoing Game category at The Game Awards 2024.
The recent server reboot for Forza Horizon 3 followed player reports on the Forza subreddit regarding unavailable features. Initial fears of an imminent shutdown were allayed by a Playground Games community manager who confirmed the reboot and reported a positive increase in player activity. While Forza Horizon 3 was officially declared "End of Life" in 2020, removing it from the Microsoft Store, its online functionality persists.
The delisting of Forza Horizon 4 in December 2024, despite its impressive 24 million player count since its 2018 release, served as a stark reminder of the transient nature of online services. Playground Games' swift response to Forza Horizon 3's issues, however, offers a reassuring counterpoint, showcasing their dedication to player engagement.
With Forza Horizon 5's phenomenal success, anticipation for Forza Horizon 6 is high. The substantial player base consistently requests a Japan setting, a possibility that aligns with Playground Games' potential plans, alongside their work on the upcoming Fable title.
