Forza Horizon 3’s online services have experienced a refreshing revival lately, much to the joy of its fans, despite the game being removed from the store. Playground Games has committed to keeping these features alive. Following the delisting, the online services for the first two Forza Horizon games were permanently discontinued, causing concern that Forza Horizon 3’s multiplayer might be next. Thankfully, a member of Playground’s team recently confirmed that the online features are thriving.
Starting in 2005 with the original Forza Motorsport, the Forza franchise quickly gained traction, leading to the release of the first Forza Horizon in 2012. The latest installment, Forza Horizon 5, sparked some discussions during The Game Awards 2024 when it was overlooked for the Best Ongoing Game category. This fifth entry has offered an impressive amount of post-launch content and numerous significant updates, including the introduction of the Hide and Seek multiplayer mode.
JoaoPaulo3k posted on Reddit a screenshot from the Forza subreddit, where someone questioned, “Is this the end of Forza 3?” A player had trouble accessing some features, sparking fears among the community about the possible discontinuation of online services. Thankfully, Playground’s senior community manager was hailed as a “saint” for responding to the racers’ concerns and assured everyone that the servers had been rebooted. In 2020, Forza Horizon 3 was designated as “End of Life,” indicating that the base game and its DLC could no longer be bought from the Microsoft Store.
Forza Horizon 3’s Online Services Endure Despite Game Being Delisted
Last year was tough for Forza enthusiasts when Forza Horizon 4 was taken down in December 2024, despite its impressive track record of over 24 million players since its launch in 2018. However, it’s heartening to see Playground actively tackling online problems and community concerns regarding Forza Horizon 3. The community manager even mentioned a surge in traffic after the servers were restarted.
Last year marked a significant milestone for Forza Horizon 5, which, three years after its launch, attracted over 40 million players since its 2021 debut. This open-world racer has solidified its place as one of Xbox’s most successful games ever, and fans are buzzing with excitement for what’s next, presumably Forza Horizon 6. With many players hoping for a Japan setting, it’s very possible that Playground is stealthily crafting the sequel while also putting the finishing touches on the eagerly awaited Fable title.