Major changes may be on the horizon for Turn 10 Studios and the Forza Motorsport series. Recent reports suggest the division responsible for Forza Motorsport could be shutting down, with the remaining team members shifting their efforts to support the Forza Horizon franchise. This news has fans on edge, especially following Microsoft’s recent layoffs in its Xbox division.
About 70 employees, almost half of Turn 10’s staff, were laid off during Microsoft’s restructuring of its gaming sector. This wave of cuts also affected other studios and projects, including the cancellation of titles like Everwild and Perfect Dark. The Initiative studio faced closures as well, and various teams underwent significant downsizing.
Fred Russell, a former Turn 10 employee, shared that the Motorsport division might no longer be active. Instead, the remaining staff could be working on supporting the Forza Horizon games. Some former employees, including those involved in the live service program, have also hinted at this shift. If this is accurate, Forza Motorsport might stop receiving updates and new content sooner than expected, casting uncertainty over the series’ future.
That said, these claims remain unconfirmed. Microsoft hasn’t officially announced any closure or reorganization of Turn 10 Studios. Until we hear something concrete from the company, it’s best to take this info with caution.
For over 20 years, Turn 10 has been recognized for delivering a realistic, traditional track racing experience through the Forza Motorsport series. Unlike many racing games that have moved toward open-world designs, Turn 10 has stuck to the classic racing fans’ preferences. Meanwhile, Playground Games took the Forza series in a different direction with the open-world style of Forza Horizon.
On a related note, the PS5 version of Forza Horizon 5 launched this April, and MP1st gave it a solid 9.5 out of 10. The review praised the game for maintaining its charm and quality even after the initial 2021 release.