Forza Horizon 3's Online Functionality Remains Active Despite Delisting
Despite being removed from digital storefronts in 2020, Forza Horizon 3 continues to offer active online services, much to the delight of its player base. This positive development follows the permanent shutdown of online services for the original Forza Horizon and Forza Horizon 2 after their delistings. Concerns regarding a similar fate for Forza Horizon 3 were recently addressed and allayed by a Playground Games community manager.
Following reports of inaccessible features, the community manager confirmed a server reboot, demonstrating a commitment to maintaining online functionality. This action contrasts with the previous termination of online services for earlier titles in the series.
The Forza franchise, launched in 2005 with Forza Motorsport, has seen significant growth, particularly with the Forza Horizon series, which debuted in 2012. The latest installment, Forza Horizon 5, released in 2021, has achieved remarkable success, boasting over 40 million players. Despite this success and the game's extensive post-launch content, including the popular Hide and Seek mode, Forza Horizon 5's omission from the Best Ongoing Game category at The Game Awards 2024 sparked some controversy.
A Reddit post highlighting player concerns about the end of Forza Horizon 3's online services prompted the community manager's intervention. The prompt response and server reboot were met with significant positive feedback from the community. It's important to note that Forza Horizon 3 reached its "End of Life" status in 2020, meaning it was no longer available for purchase.
The delisting of Forza Horizon 4 in December 2024, despite its impressive 24 million player base since its 2018 launch, served as a stark reminder of the potential for online service termination. The swift and positive response regarding Forza Horizon 3, however, offers reassurance to players. The increased online traffic following the server reboot further underscores the continued popularity of the game.
Forza Horizon 5's phenomenal success solidifies the franchise's position as a major player in the racing game genre. With anticipation building for a potential Forza Horizon 6, and persistent fan requests for a Japan setting, the future of the series looks bright. Playground Games may be simultaneously working on the next Horizon title while also developing the highly anticipated Fable game.
