Delisted Open-World Racing Game Restores Online Features

Forza Horizon 3's Online Functionality Remains Active Despite Delisting

Despite being removed from digital storefronts in 2020, Forza Horizon 3's online services continue to operate, much to the delight of its player base. This is a welcome surprise, especially considering the permanent shutdown of online services for the original Forza Horizon and Forza Horizon 2 following their delistings. Recent concerns raised by players regarding inaccessible features prompted a response from Playground Games, reassuring the community that servers had been restarted and online functionality was being actively maintained.

The Forza franchise, launched in 2005 with Forza Motorsport, has seen significant growth, culminating in the highly successful Forza Horizon 5, which surpassed 40 million players in 2024. This latest title, while lauded for its extensive post-launch content and updates (including the Hide and Seek mode), faced some controversy after its omission from The Game Awards 2024's "Best Ongoing Game" category.

A Reddit post highlighting player concerns about the potential end of Forza Horizon 3's online services prompted a timely intervention. A senior community manager from Playground Games addressed the issue, confirming the server reboot and alleviating fears of an imminent shutdown. The game's "End of Life" status in 2020, which discontinued sales of the base game and DLC on the Microsoft Store, did not extend to the complete cessation of online play.

The recent server maintenance for Forza Horizon 3 contrasts with the delisting of Forza Horizon 4 in December 2024, despite its impressive 24 million player count. This proactive approach by Playground Games, coupled with the positive player response following the server reboot, underscores their commitment to supporting the game's online community.

Forza Horizon 5's remarkable success further solidifies the Forza franchise's popularity. With its massive player base and ongoing demand for new content, speculation is already rife about the potential setting and features of the anticipated Forza Horizon 6, with many players hoping for a Japan-based installment.