How did the Forza Horizon series get so big?

Forza Horizon 5 had one of the most successful launches in Xbox history, solidifying its standing power as a major IP. But, what has led to it becoming such a major force in the industry?

[Jin_Sakai]

By being the best at what it does. It’s an amazing open world racing game that’s done incredibly well. It’s also tons of fun.

[killyourfm]

Yea, people forget that realism is irrelevant if the thing isn't FUN.

[CS7]

Probably a decade or so ago.

But I really love when “games” are creating realistic or immersive interactive worlds even if it isn’t necessarily “fun”.

Examples include Flight Simulator, RDR2, Death Stranding, TLOU2.

These are great experiences where the main focus is engagement, not necessarily “fun”.

[FlavorLav01]

It’s also being given away for a $1. That might have a little something to do with it. Fun game and all though. Having a blast

[killyourfm]

This was a great read, thank you. And damn I miss the Criterion of old.

[7Cris7]

Because it's fun.

[MadLad]

Consistent quality?

[iplay1up2]

Easily one of the best looking games on PC and new Genconsoles. Photo realistic in many parts of the game. Also a blast to play.

[FlavorLav01]

Minus the NPCs. The characters in the cars look like Barbie and Ken dolls. And driving a 150-180mph with no helmet? Right!?

[iplay1up2]

You are absolutely right. They look about as good as OG Xbox One NPC's. It is jarring to look at all of the details, and then see the NPC's!

[TheColbertinator]

It is fun and not taking itself too seriously. Reminds me of the Need for Speed golden age.

[jznrpg]

Not much else to play?

[Terry_B]

Its a good game that tells the player he/she is the best.

[Z501]

It became big because Xbox didn't have a lot of exclusives.

[MadLad]

I guess the universal acclaim via reviews, release after release, was just a fluke.

[Z501]

Both can be true.
*Okami had great reviews and universal claim.
No one bought it.

[P4rrot]

By giving it away for free. (sort of)

[NeoGamer232]

Forza Horizon sold well before it was on GamePass.

[P4rrot]

Yes it did, I'm not talking it down. It's a great game. But the vast majority of concurrent players they are now seeing is because it is on gamepass. Which in itself is a fantastic service. I picked up 3 months of gamepass on pc recently for £1. That's long enough for me to play this game and Forza Horizon is not something I would have bought otherwise.

[MrNinosan]

Because there are not many other games that is fun playing on Xbox One/Series.
Also it's free if you were around for any of the million times MS tried to throw GamePass at you, or if you didn't get it for free, you'd get it for 1$.

That's how it got so "big".

And yes, I'm also playing Forza, mainly because I'm waiting for GT7.

[strifeblade]

Gt7...yikes your going to be disappointed. You should wait for the next motorsport, now that game is built around up- not last gen re used assets.

[MrNinosan]

How can next Motorsport be built around Current gen, when it have to work on last gen? 🤔

[NeoGamer232]

You must not be playing Forza Horizon because you would know Forza Horizon and GT aren't even comparable games. Second, someone just saying "Forza" knows nothing because there are two franchises Forza Horizon and Forza Motorsports. Both are very different.

And GT hasn't been great for a very long time now. It hasn't scored 85 or above on Metacritic since GT4 way back in 2005. A lot of series fans keep coming back to the game, but from a gaming perspective the series has continually been less then stellar for a long time. I hope GT7 is great because I used to love GT, but recent GT's are beautiful but boring grinds. It is funny how certain fans call Flight Simulator boring because it is a realistic flight simulator, but they call GT amazing even though it is just as boring as flight simulator to play.

[FlavorLav01]

To answer you query, because racing is a popular competitive sport, simulator or not. Sim flying just isn’t, unless we’re talking air shows and pilot stunts. So, the the GT to Flight Sim comparison doesn’t exactly hold up. Flight sim while beautiful, is more akin to an extension of the google earth app than an actual game. More of an experience or training program(lite).

[NeoGamer232]

@FlavorLav01
So because racing is more popular then flight simulation you can't compare the two.

OK.

[MrNinosan]

I'm well aware that Horizon (the one that runs hot now) is an Arcade game, while Motorsport and GT is Sims.

But I am playing Horizon, for the same reason I'm playing GT, to spend hours and hours to collect new cars.

That's what I love with both Forza Series and GT.

And even if you didn't like GT since forever, I was necer disappointed, well at the beginning with Sport, but that is a different game today compared to the release.

[strifeblade]

The next motorsport is next gen exclusive. All new assets way more years of work.