Forza Horizon 3 Online Services Remain Active Despite Delisting

Despite being removed from digital stores in 2020, Forza Horizon 3's online functionality continues to operate, much to the delight of its player base. This is a welcome surprise, considering the immediate shutdown of online services for the original Forza Horizon and Forza Horizon 2 following their delistings. Recent reports of inaccessible features prompted a response from Playground Games, with a community manager confirming server restarts and reaffirming their commitment to maintaining online play.

The Forza franchise, launched in 2005 with Forza Motorsport, has seen significant growth, especially within the Horizon series which debuted in 2012. The latest installment, Forza Horizon 5, released in 2021, has achieved remarkable success, boasting over 40 million players. This success, however, didn't prevent the game from being controversially omitted from the Best Ongoing Game category at The Game Awards 2024. Forza Horizon 5's extensive post-launch content and updates, such as the Hide and Seek mode, have been key to its longevity.

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 within the community. However, Playground Games' senior community manager swiftly addressed these concerns, announcing server maintenance and effectively calming player anxieties. The delisting of Forza Horizon 3 in 2020 marked its "End of Life," meaning the game and its DLC were no longer available for purchase on the Microsoft Store.

The unexpected continuation of Forza Horizon 3's online services contrasts with the fate of Forza Horizon 4, which was delisted in December 2024 despite exceeding 24 million players since its 2018 release. The prompt and positive response from Playground Games to the Forza Horizon 3 situation is commendable, with the community manager reporting increased player activity following the server reboot.

Forza Horizon 5's continued success, surpassing 40 million players in 2024, solidifies its place as one of Xbox's most successful titles. Anticipation for Forza Horizon 6 is high, with many players hoping for a long-requested Japan setting. While Playground Games is currently focused on the upcoming Fable game, speculation suggests they might be simultaneously planning the next Horizon installment.