In a shocking move, Xbox has reportedly shut down the Forza Motorsport franchise as part of mass layoffs, dissolving Turn 10’s sim-racing division. Here’s everything we know about the end of this iconic series.
The long-running Forza Motorsport franchise has reportedly been shelved following major layoffs at Xbox and the significant downsizing of developer Turn 10 Studios. Once seen as Microsoft’s answer to Sony’s Gran Turismo, the Motorsport series now appears to have reached an unexpected and unceremonious end, according to a former Turn 10 developer.
Fred Russell, a former content coordinator at Turn 10 who left the company in 2016, recently posted on Facebook that the studio has “shuttered the Forza Motorsport space and the team is no more.” He added that while Turn 10 itself remains operational, it will now serve only in a supporting role for the Forza Horizon series, developed primarily by Playground Games.
This confirmation aligns with mounting reports of massive layoffs across Xbox’s first-party studios, with nearly 9,000 employees affected company-wide. According to Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier, Turn 10 lost close to 50% of its workforce during the July 2025 cuts. The layoffs also impacted other studios like Zenimax and King, with multiple games, including Perfect Dark, Everwild, and an unannounced MMO, reportedly cancelled.
While Xbox has not released an official statement confirming the cancellation of Forza Motorsport, Russell’s comments and the scale of the layoffs suggest the decision is final. Other former Turn 10 employees, such as longtime content creator John Schommer, have also acknowledged their departures and reflected on their time with the franchise, further signaling a significant restructuring within the studio.
Launched in 2005, Forza Motorsport quickly became a flagship sim-racing series for Xbox, known for its realism, in-depth car customization, and competitive online racing. However, in recent years, the Forza Horizon spin-offs, which blend simulation mechanics with open-world, arcade-style fun, have grown in popularity and player engagement. The last Motorsport title, released in 2023, received a mixed reception and failed to retain a large player base post-launch.
Meanwhile, the Forza Horizon series continues to thrive. Forza Horizon 5, released in 2021, remains one of the most successful racing games on the platform. With Turn 10 now reportedly supporting Playground Games, future Horizon titles may benefit from the technical expertise of the Motorsport team, though it remains to be seen if any of the sim elements will be integrated into upcoming entries.
Earlier in June, Xbox Gaming CEO Phil Spencer mentioned a new Forza title was planned for 2026 but did not clarify whether it belonged to the Horizon or Motorsport line. With recent developments, it’s now widely believed that any future Forza projects will fall under the Horizon banner.
The cancellation of Forza Motorsport marks the end of an era in sim racing and leaves a noticeable gap in Xbox’s first-party portfolio. For fans of authentic racing experiences, the future looks uncertain.
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