Forza team disbanded, devs shift focus to Horizon

Turn 10 Studios, the developer behind Forza Motorsport, has been significantly affected by Microsoft's recent layoffs, with former staff indicating these cuts have effectively ended development on Xbox's flagship racing simulation series.

Former Forza Motorsport content coordinator Fred Russell confirmed the racing franchise's development team has been disbanded. Remaining employees at the Washington-based studio will reportedly shift focus to supporting Playground Games' Forza Horizon series instead.

"Turn 10 Studios has closed its Forza Motorsport division and dissolved the team," Russell stated in a Facebook post. "This marks a sad day for one of racing gaming's finest franchises. I'll always cherish my time working there."

When questioned about Turn 10's broader future, Russell clarified that "the studio remains operational to support the Horizon series" while Microsoft had "specifically shut down the Motorsport division."

Former technical designer Chris Harding suggested approximately 120 staff members were let go from the Forza Motorsport team. IGN has reached out to Microsoft for official comment.

The inaugural Forza Motorsport debuted on the original Xbox in 2005, establishing itself as both a cornerstone Xbox franchise and a formidable competitor to PlayStation's Gran Turismo. The series saw seven sequels across every Xbox console generation.

However, the simulation-focused Motorsport series gradually became overshadowed by the commercial success of Forza Horizon - the open-world spin-off that launched in 2012. The past decade saw four Horizon sequels following its critically-acclaimed debut.

Recent comments from Xbox head Phil Spencer about a new Forza title arriving in 2026 now appear to confirm the focus has shifted solely to the Horizon series, rather than continuing the rebooted Motorsport franchise that launched to mixed reviews last year.

"While there may be no future development," Russell reflected, "Forza Motorsport's legacy in racing game history remains secure."