Forza Horizon 3 Online: Still Running Strong Despite Delisting
Despite being removed from sale in 2020, Forza Horizon 3's online functionality remains active, much to the delight of players. This continued support from Playground Games was recently confirmed after a community manager addressed concerns about unavailable features, reassuring players that the servers had been restarted. This contrasts with the fate of Forza Horizon and Forza Horizon 2, whose online services were shut down after delisting.
The Forza series, launched in 2005 with Forza Motorsport, has seen consistent growth, culminating in the highly successful Forza Horizon 5. Released in 2021, Forza Horizon 5 recently surpassed 40 million players, becoming one of Xbox's biggest hits. Its omission from the Best Ongoing Game category at The Game Awards 2024 sparked some debate, but the game's extensive post-launch content and updates, such as the Hide and Seek mode, speak for themselves.
The recent server reboot for Forza Horizon 3 followed player reports of inaccessible features on the Forza subreddit. A post questioning the game's online future prompted a reassuring response from Playground Games' senior community manager, who confirmed the server restart and noted a positive increase in player activity. While Forza Horizon 3 reached its "End of Life" in 2020, meaning it's no longer purchasable, its online experience continues.
The Delisting of Forza Horizon 4 and the Success of Forza Horizon 5
The delisting of Forza Horizon 4 in December 2024, despite its 24 million-plus player base, served as a stark reminder of the transient nature of game availability. However, Playground Games' swift action regarding Forza Horizon 3 demonstrates their commitment to player experience and community engagement.
Forza Horizon 5's remarkable success underscores the series' enduring appeal. With over 40 million players since its 2021 release, it's become a major Xbox franchise. Anticipation for Forza Horizon 6 is high, with many players hoping for a long-requested Japan setting. While Playground Games is also working on Fable, speculation about the next Horizon title continues.
