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. Recent reports of inaccessible features prompted a swift response from Playground Games, with a community manager confirming a server reboot and reaffirming the studio's commitment to maintaining online services. 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 remarkable growth, culminating in the hugely successful Forza Horizon 5. Released in 2021, Forza Horizon 5 recently surpassed 40 million players, solidifying its place as one of Xbox's biggest hits. This success, however, didn't prevent the game from being controversially omitted from the Best Ongoing Game category at The Game Awards 2024, despite its extensive post-launch content and updates like the Hide and Seek mode.
The recent reassurance regarding Forza Horizon 3 came after a Reddit post by JoaoPaulo3k highlighted player concerns about the game's online future. A player's inability to access certain features sparked fears of an impending shutdown. The timely intervention of Playground Games' senior community manager, praised by the community, allayed these anxieties. While Forza Horizon 3 reached its "End of Life" status in 2020, meaning its removal from the Microsoft Store, its online servers continue to function.
The delisting of Forza Horizon 4 in December 2024, despite its over 24 million players since its 2018 launch, served as a stark reminder of the impermanence of online services. Playground Games' proactive response to Forza Horizon 3's issues, however, is a positive sign, especially given the reported increase in player traffic following the server reboot.
Forza Horizon 5's phenomenal success sets a high bar for the anticipated Forza Horizon 6. With a substantial player base consistently requesting a Japanese setting, speculation is rife about the next installment's location, potentially alongside Playground Games' work on the upcoming Fable title.
