The iconic racing franchise Forza Motorsport appears to have reached the end of the road. According to a Facebook post by Fred Russell, former content coordinator at Turn 10 Studios, all development related to the Motorsport series has been halted, while the Forza Horizon saga will continue to thrive under the stewardship of Playground Games.
The announcement comes at a challenging time for the gaming industry, following a wave of layoffs that has affected Microsoft on a broad scale, with approximately 9,000 employees impacted across various divisions. Among the hardest hit was Turn 10 Studios, which, according to journalist Jason Schreier on Bluesky, saw its workforce slashed by up to 50%. The cuts include several long-standing team members such as Jordy Ressler, Business Operations Program Manager, and John Schommer, a key content creator for the franchise.
Russell, who worked on Forza Motorsport until 2016, described the closure of the project as “a sad day for one of the best racing games ever made,” though he emphasized that the team remains active to continue supporting Forza Horizon. The decision appears to reflect the shifting fortunes of the two branches of the franchise: while Forza Motorsport has received mixed reviews on Steam, Forza Horizon 5 continues to enjoy critical acclaim and popularity among both PC and console players.
Launched in 2005 as Microsoft’s answer to Gran Turismo, Forza Motorsport quickly became a benchmark for racing simulation on consoles, beloved by fans for its attention to detail and realism. However, the rising success of the Horizon series, with its open-world concept and more accessible gameplay, seems to have dictated a strategic pivot for Microsoft’s racing portfolio.
At present, Playground Games is also busy developing the highly anticipated new chapter of Fable, whose release has been postponed to 2026. Meanwhile, it remains unclear whether Microsoft might reconsider its decision to shelve Forza Motorsport in the future or if the title is destined to remain a cherished memory for fans of the genre.
For now, the spotlight firmly belongs to Forza Horizon, leaving the once-revered Motorsport series parked indefinitely.
