Forza Horizon 3's Online Persistence: A Community Triumph
Despite its 2020 delisting, Forza Horizon 3's online functionality remains surprisingly active. This unexpected longevity is a testament to Playground Games' commitment to its player base. Following reports of inaccessible features, a community manager confirmed a server reboot, dispelling fears of an imminent shutdown – a welcome contrast to the permanent closure of Forza Horizon and Forza Horizon 2's online services after their delistings.
The Forza franchise, launched in 2005 with Forza Motorsport, has seen significant growth, culminating in the highly successful Forza Horizon 5. While Forza Horizon 5's exclusion from the 2024 Game Awards' "Best Ongoing Game" category sparked some controversy, its over 40 million players since its 2021 release solidify its place as an Xbox flagship. This success, fueled by extensive post-launch content and updates like the Hide and Seek mode, further highlights the franchise's enduring appeal.
A recent Reddit thread, initiated by JoaoPaulo3k, showcased community concerns regarding Forza Horizon 3's online status. A player's inability to access certain features ignited fears of a service termination. However, swift action by Playground Games' senior community manager, lauded as a "saint" by the community, confirmed the server reboot and reassured players. The game's 2020 "End of Life" designation, signifying the removal of the base game and DLC from the Microsoft Store, had previously fueled these anxieties.
Forza Horizon 3's Online Services Remain Active After Delisting
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 transient nature of online services. Playground Games' rapid response to Forza Horizon 3's issues, coupled with the positive post-reboot player traffic, offers a reassuring counterpoint.
Forza Horizon 5's remarkable achievement of over 40 million players underscores the franchise's continued success. As anticipation builds for the likely Forza Horizon 6, long-standing fan requests for a Japan setting fuel speculation about the future direction of the series, potentially alongside Playground Games' work on the upcoming Fable title.
