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. Initial concerns arose when players reported inaccessible features, sparking fears of an imminent shutdown mirroring the fate of Forza Horizon and Forza Horizon 2's online services. However, a Playground Games community manager swiftly intervened, confirming a server reboot and reassuring players of the game's continued online support. This proactive response stands in stark contrast to the permanent termination of online services for earlier titles in the franchise 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. This latest installment, boasting over 40 million players since its 2021 release, recently generated discussion after its omission from The Game Awards 2024's "Best Ongoing Game" category. Forza Horizon 5's extensive post-launch content and updates, including the popular Hide and Seek mode, highlight the franchise's ongoing commitment to player engagement.
A Reddit thread initiated by JoaoPaulo3k showcased player anxieties regarding Forza Horizon 3's online future. The thread, featuring a screenshot questioning the game's online viability, highlighted the community's apprehension. The timely intervention of Playground's senior community manager, praised by players, effectively addressed these concerns and confirmed the server restoration. It's important to note that Forza Horizon 3 reached its "End of Life" status in 2020, resulting in the removal of the base game and DLC from the Microsoft Store.
The delisting of Forza Horizon 4 in December 2024, despite its impressive 24 million player count since its 2018 launch, served as a recent reminder of the transient nature of online services. Playground Games' swift and positive response to the Forza Horizon 3 situation, including noting increased player activity post-reboot, is a welcome change.
Forza Horizon 5's remarkable success underscores the franchise's enduring popularity. With anticipation building for the speculated Forza Horizon 6, and persistent fan requests for a Japanese setting, Playground Games is likely busy planning the next iteration while simultaneously working on the highly anticipated Fable title.
