Katarzyna Petru
The rumours about the end of Forza Motorsport have been exaggerated. Despite recent layoffs at Turn 10 Studios, Microsoft is not planning to kill off its iconic racing series. As confirmed by Phil Spencer himself in an interview with the Japanese magazine Famitsu – the brand will continue to be developed, although it is not currently a priority for the company.
“No! Sometimes we have to shift priorities to titles that will hit the market sooner. I understand that many people reacted to the scaling back of Turn 10 Studios, but sometimes it's worth giving the team more time to avoid tension and burnout,” said Spencer.
The words of the head of Microsoft's games division dispel the doubts that have arisen after a series of restructuring and layoffs at the studio responsible for the simulation branch of Forza. Turn 10 now has the time to calmly refine the project and rebuild its reputation after the cold reception of the 2023 reboot. Although the previous Forza Motorsport impressed with its driving realism and technical prowess, players complained about the sparse content and the less engaging career mode. For Microsoft, however, the series is meant to remain a technological showcase for the Xbox brand, much like Gran Turismo 7 was for Sony in the past.
Behind the scenes, it's clear that Microsoft's entire gaming division is undergoing a significant transformation. According to a report by Jason Schreier, the company has imposed an aggressive margin target of 30% on its gaming departments, which is clearly affecting employment structures and production decisions. Fortunately, Spencer reassures:
Forza Motorsport has not been cancelled, and the studio has been given more space to create the game with passion – without time and financial pressures. Meanwhile, on the horizon, there's something that will surely delight fans of more skill-based driving – Forza Horizon 6, which according to unofficial information will take players to Japan and is set to debut in 2026.
