Forza Horizon 3 Online: Servers Back Online After Reboot, Despite Delisting
Despite being delisted in 2020, Forza Horizon 3's online services remain active, much to the delight of players. Recent concerns about inaccessible features prompted a community manager to confirm a server reboot, highlighting Playground Games' ongoing commitment to maintaining online functionality. This is a welcome contrast to the fate of Forza Horizon and Forza Horizon 2, whose online services were shut down after delisting.
The Forza franchise, launched in 2005 with Forza Motorsport, has seen considerable success, particularly with the Horizon series. The latest installment, Forza Horizon 5, released in 2021, recently surpassed 40 million players, solidifying its position as one of Xbox's most popular titles. This success comes despite its controversial omission from the Best Ongoing Game category at The Game Awards 2024. Forza Horizon 5 has consistently received post-launch content and updates, including the popular Hide and Seek mode.
Player concerns regarding Forza Horizon 3's online future were recently raised on Reddit. A post questioning the game's online status, due to inaccessible features, sparked worry among the community. However, Playground Games' senior community manager swiftly responded, reassuring players that the servers had been restarted and were operational. The game's 2020 "End of Life" status, which ended sales on the Microsoft Store, had fueled these concerns.
Forza Horizon 3 Online Remains Active After Delisting
The delisting of Forza Horizon 4 in December 2024, despite its over 24 million players since its 2018 launch, served as a stark reminder of the potential for online service termination. Playground Games' prompt response to the Forza Horizon 3 situation, coupled with the positive player feedback following the server reboot, underscores the developer's dedication to its player base.
Forza Horizon 5's remarkable achievement of over 40 million players since its 2021 release underscores the franchise's continued popularity. Anticipation is building for Forza Horizon 6, with many fans hoping for a long-requested Japan setting. While Playground Games is currently focused on Fable, the possibility of a Japanese-themed Horizon game remains a tantalizing prospect for the future.
