Despite being delisted in 2020, Forza Horizon 3's online services remain active, much to the delight of its players. This continued support was recently confirmed by a community manager who addressed player concerns about unavailable features, clarifying that servers had been restarted. This demonstrates Playground Games' ongoing commitment to maintaining online functionality, a stark contrast to the fate of Forza Horizon and Forza Horizon 2, whose online services were 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 games. 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, including the popular Hide and Seek mode.
The recent reassurance regarding Forza Horizon 3's online services stemmed from a Reddit post expressing concern about inaccessible features. A player's query, "Is this the end of Forza 3?", sparked worries of an impending shutdown. However, a senior community manager swiftly responded, confirming server maintenance and alleviating player anxieties. The game reached its "End of Life" status in 2020, meaning it's no longer available for purchase, but the online component continues.
The delisting of Forza Horizon 4 in December 2024, despite its 24 million player base, served as a reminder of the potential for online service termination. Playground Games' proactive response to the Forza Horizon 3 situation, and the positive player feedback following the server reboot, is therefore particularly encouraging.
Forza Horizon 5's phenomenal success underscores the franchise's enduring popularity. With over 40 million players since its 2021 launch, it's cemented its place as an Xbox flagship title. Anticipation is already building for Forza Horizon 6, with many players hoping for a long-requested Japanese setting. While Playground Games is currently focused on Fable, speculation suggests development on the next Horizon installment is underway.
