Racing Game's Online Mode Returns

Summary

• Despite being delisted in 2020, Forza Horizon 3's online services remain active.
• A community manager confirmed server restarts following player reports of unavailable features, demonstrating Playground Games' commitment to online service maintenance.
• Forza Horizon 5 recently surpassed 40 million players since its 2021 launch.

Forza Horizon 3's online services have unexpectedly been revived, pleasing fans and showcasing Playground Games' dedication to maintaining these features despite the game's 2020 delisting. Unlike the original Forza Horizon and Forza Horizon 2, whose online services were permanently shut down after delisting, Forza Horizon 3's multiplayer functionality persists thanks to a recent intervention by the development team.

The Forza franchise began in 2005 with Forza Motorsport, followed by the first Forza Horizon in 2012. The latest installment, Forza Horizon 5, sparked controversy by being omitted from The Game Awards 2024's "Best Ongoing Game" category, despite its extensive post-launch content and updates, including the popular Hide and Seek mode.

A Reddit post by JoaoPaulo3k highlighted community concerns regarding inaccessible features in Forza Horizon 3, sparking fears of an impending online service shutdown. However, Playground Games' senior community manager swiftly addressed these concerns, announcing server restarts and reassuring players. While Forza Horizon 3 reached its "End of Life" status in 2020, meaning it's no longer purchasable on the Microsoft Store, its online functionality remains surprisingly robust.

Forza Horizon 3's Online Services Persist Despite Delisting

The delisting of Forza Horizon 4 in December 2024, despite its 24 million player base (since its 2018 launch), was a setback for fans last year. Playground Games' prompt response to Forza Horizon 3's online issues, along with the community manager's positive report on increased post-restart traffic, is a welcome change.

Three years after its release, Forza Horizon 5 achieved a significant milestone, exceeding 40 million players since its 2021 launch. This makes it one of Xbox's most successful games, fueling anticipation for the likely upcoming Forza Horizon 6. With a long-standing player request for a Japan setting, it's possible Playground Games is secretly developing the next installment while simultaneously working on the anticipated Fable title.