Ex-T10 Dev: Forza Motorsport Team Dissolved

Forza Motorsport developer Turn 10 Studios has reportedly been severely impacted by this week's sweeping Microsoft layoffs, leading to the winding down of the flagship Xbox racing simulation series, according to former staff.

Former content coordinator for the franchise, Fred Russell, has indicated the Motorsport team is effectively "no more." Remaining employees at the Washington-based Turn 10 are now said to be focused on supporting the Forza Horizon series, primarily developed by UK-based Playground Games.

"Turn 10 Studios has shuttered the Forza Motorsport space and the team is no more," Russell stated in a Facebook post. "A very sad day for one of the best car racing video games. I loved my time there."

Responding to questions about the studio's overall future, Russell clarified that "the studio is open to support the Horizon side" and that Microsoft had "shuttered the Forza Motorsport side only."

Another ex-Turn 10 employee, Chris Harding, suggested "120 people" were "gone from the FM side." IGN has reached out to Microsoft for official comment.

The original Forza Motorsport launched on the first Xbox in 2005, establishing the series as a core Microsoft gaming brand and a major competitor to PlayStation's Gran Turismo. Seven main sequels followed, spanning every generation of Xbox consoles.

However, the success of the open-world spin-off Forza Horizon, which debuted on Xbox 360 in 2012, has increasingly overshadowed the original simulation-focused series. Four subsequent Horizon titles were released over the following decade to widespread acclaim.

When Xbox head Phil Spencer recently confirmed the next Forza title is slated for 2026, it was widely interpreted as a new Forza Horizon entry, rather than a follow-up to the 2023 Forza Motorsport reboot, which launched to mixed reviews.

The Forza Motorsport series is now reportedly discontinued, with no staff at Turn 10 currently dedicated to its development.

"The legacy will stay," Russell concluded, "even if there is no future for the game."