Forza Horizon 3 Online Services Remain Active Despite Delisting
Despite being removed from sale in 2020, Forza Horizon 3's online functionality continues to operate, much to the delight of players. A recent community manager confirmation, following reports of inaccessible features, confirms Playground Games' commitment to maintaining these online services. This stands in contrast to the permanent shutdown of online services for the original Forza Horizon and Forza Horizon 2 after their delistings.
The Forza franchise, launched in 2005 with Forza Motorsport, has seen significant growth, particularly with the Forza Horizon series debuting in 2012. The latest installment, Forza Horizon 5, released in 2021, recently surpassed 40 million players, becoming one of Xbox's most successful games. This success, however, didn't prevent the game from being notably absent from the Best Ongoing Game category at The Game Awards 2024, sparking some controversy.
Concerns about Forza Horizon 3's online future arose recently on Reddit. A player's post expressing worry about the loss of online features prompted a reassuring response from Playground Games' senior community manager. The manager confirmed a server reboot had addressed the reported issues, earning praise from the community. It's important to note that Forza Horizon 3 reached its "End of Life" status in 2020, meaning it was removed from the Microsoft Store.
Forza Horizon 3's Online Persistence: A Positive Sign for the Franchise
The delisting of Forza Horizon 4 in December 2024, despite its over 24 million players since its 2018 release, served as a reminder of the potential for online service termination. Playground Games' swift and positive response to the Forza Horizon 3 situation, however, is encouraging. The community manager also reported increased player activity following the server reboot.
Forza Horizon 5's continued success, with over 40 million players since its 2021 launch, highlights the franchise's popularity. Anticipation is building for Forza Horizon 6, with many players hoping for a Japanese setting. While Playground Games is also working on the Fable title, speculation continues regarding the future direction of the Forza Horizon series.
