Microsoft Game Studios

Lore & Background

Microsoft Game Studios established Turn 10 Studios in 2001 to create a racing series that would showcase the technological capabilities of the original Xbox, including its Xbox Live online multiplayer network. From the start, Turn 10's approach was to broaden the series' appeal to the general audience and not limit it to racing enthusiasts, passionately highlighting car culture. The first Forza Motorsport was released on May 3, 2005, featuring 231 cars and racetracks from 15 real-world and fictional locations.

It established common elements for future titles including effects of damage on car performance, a paint job and decal editor, the ability to tune cars and purchase upgrades using in-game credits, and assist functions that make driving easier at the cost of bonus end-of-race credits. The franchise has sold over 14 million copies as of December 2016 (though this figure is outdated and may be disputed) and has garnered critical acclaim.

Reader's Guide

Until 2019, each installment of the franchise series had alternated on a biennial basis; the Motorsport entries were released in odd-numbered years, while the Horizon entries were released in even-numbered years. This pattern was altered due to the absence of a new Motorsport game in 2019. In July 2025, Turn 10 Studios was reported to have lost almost half of its then-current workforce amidst layoffs being conducted at Microsoft Gaming ahead of the new financial year.

Shortly thereafter, reports anticipated that the developer would be reorganized into a support studio for future Forza Horizon entries. This was later confirmed in a blog post by Turn 10 Studios in December 2025, which announced that Forza Motorsport would receive no further content updates, though its servers would remain active. Microsoft Gaming leadership has clarified that the Forza Motorsport franchise remains a parked asset rather than a discontinued one, leaving the series long-term future open for future strategic re-engagement.

Did You Know?

• Drivatars, a portmanteau of driver and avatar, were introduced in Forza Motorsport 5 and are an artificial neural network used by AI racers in subsequent titles.
• Forza Motorsport 3, released on October 27, 2009, launched with 416 cars from 57 manufacturers.
• In 2025, Forza Horizon 5 was announced for release on Sony's PlayStation 5 console, marking the first time the franchise has shipped on a non-Xbox console.