The Forza Motorsport Series Might Be Dead As We Know It
The Forza Motorsport franchise may be facing an existential threat after significant layoffs across Microsoft’s Xbox Game Studios—with Forza's longtime developer, Turn 10 Studios, being one of the hardest hit.
Key Points
- Over 70 employees were let go from Forza Motorsport developer Turn 10 Studios as part of broader Microsoft Xbox Game Studios cuts, putting the future of the sim-racing franchise in question.
- While the 2023 reboot received mixed reviews, reports suggest only a skeleton crew remains to maintain the game, with new content and updates unlikely going forward.
- Microsoft appears to be shifting focus to Forza Horizon 6, with Turn 10 expected to assist Playground Games as the open-world arcade racer becomes the brand’s flagship driving title.
According to The Verge, over 70 employees were let go from Turn 10, including key personnel across physics, audio, engineering, and community teams, leaving the fate of the popular motorsports brand hanging by a thread.
While Microsoft hasn’t confirmed the outright cancellation of the Motorsport series, a former Turn 10 developer claimed in a now-viral post that the franchise had been “shuttered.” A skeleton crew remains to keep the game online, but whether new content or further development will continue remains uncertain.
Once Microsoft’s answer to Sony’s Gran Turismo, Forza Motorsport helped define the Xbox experience, starting with its debut in 2005. Turn 10 positioned the series as a more flexible and enthusiast-friendly sim racer, emphasizing realistic physics, extensive tuning, visual customization, and crash damage. But while the franchise thrived during the Xbox 360 era, peaking with Forza Motorsport 4, the trajectory of the series shifted when Forza Horizon launched in 2012.
The open-world spinoff, developed by Playground Games in the UK, quickly stole the spotlight with its accessible vehicle dynamics, exotic locations, and festival atmosphere. While Motorsport continued on a slower cadence, the Horizon series became Microsoft’s new golden child in the automotive space.
The latest Forza Motorsport reboot launched in October 2023, aiming to reinvent the series with a live-service model, revamped physics, and a deeper career mode. But reviews were mixed. Critics praised the handling and visual overhaul but flagged performance issues—particularly on PC—day-one bugs, and a lackluster single-player structure.
Behind the scenes, development was reportedly turbulent, with contractors describing a high-pressure, often chaotic environment. As it stands, Forza Motorsport’s 20th anniversary celebration earlier this year could end up being a bittersweet farewell to a beloved franchise that once redefined what we should expect from console racing sims.
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An experienced automotive storyteller and accomplished photographer known for engaging and insightful content. Michael also brings a wealth of technical knowledge—he was part of the Ford GT program at Multimatic, oversaw a fleet of Audi TCR race cars, ziptied Lamborghini Super Trofeo cars back together, been over the wall during the Rolex 24, and worked in the intense world of IndyCar.
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