Open-World Racing Game Returns Online After Removal

Forza Horizon 3's Online Persistence: A Community Triumph

Despite its 2020 delisting, Forza Horizon 3's online functionality remains active, much to the delight of its player base. Following reports of inaccessible features, a community manager confirmed server restarts, demonstrating Playground Games' ongoing commitment to maintaining online services. This contrasts sharply with the permanent shutdown of online services for the original Forza Horizon and Forza Horizon 2 after their delistings.

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, solidifying its position as one of Xbox's most successful titles. This success, however, didn't prevent controversy surrounding its exclusion from The Game Awards 2024's "Best Ongoing Game" category.

A recent Reddit thread expressed concern over the potential end of Forza Horizon 3's online services. A player's inability to access certain features sparked worry. However, Playground Games' senior community manager swiftly addressed these concerns, announcing server reboots and reassuring the community. While Forza Horizon 3 reached its "End of Life" in 2020, meaning its removal from the Microsoft Store, its online features continue to function.

The delisting of Forza Horizon 4 in December 2024, despite its impressive 24 million player count (since its 2018 launch), served as a stark reminder of the transience of online services. Playground Games' proactive response to Forza Horizon 3's issues, and the subsequent increase in player activity, highlights the developer's dedication to its community.

Forza Horizon 5's monumental success further underscores the franchise's popularity. With anticipation building for a potential Forza Horizon 6, speculation is rife regarding its setting, with many players hoping for a Japanese location. This, alongside Playground Games' work on the upcoming Fable title, suggests a busy but promising future for the studio.