Delisted Open-World Racing Game Restores Online Features

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. Following reports of inaccessible features, a community manager confirmed server maintenance, dispelling fears of an imminent shutdown and showcasing Playground Games' ongoing commitment to the game. This stands in contrast to the permanent closure of online services for Forza Horizon and Forza Horizon 2 after their respective delistings.

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. This success, however, didn't prevent controversy surrounding its exclusion from The Game Awards 2024's "Best Ongoing Game" category.

The recent server reboot for Forza Horizon 3 stemmed from community concerns voiced on Reddit. A player's post expressing worry about the game's online future prompted a reassuring response from Playground's senior community manager, who confirmed the server restart and noted a subsequent increase in player activity. It's important to remember that Forza Horizon 3 reached its "End of Life" status in 2020, meaning it was removed from the Microsoft Store.

Forza Horizon 4, despite its own success (over 24 million players since its 2018 release), faced delisting in December 2024. The swift and positive response to Forza Horizon 3's online issues, however, provides a welcome contrast, highlighting Playground Games' responsiveness to player needs.

Forza Horizon 5's continued success, with its impressive player count and ongoing updates (including the Hide and Seek mode), sets a high bar for future installments. Speculation about a Japan-based Forza Horizon 6 is rife amongst the fanbase, a possibility that aligns with Playground Games' potential parallel development alongside their anticipated Fable project.