In recent days, Microsoft has undergone one of the largest layoffs in its history, eliminating positions in various areas of the company, but especially in its video game division . Among the studios hardest hit is Turn 10 Studios , responsible for the Forza Motorsport series , whose future is now uncertain following recent events and the company's official silence.
News about the future of Forza Motorsport has generated genuine uncertainty within the Xbox community . Reports from former members of the studio, such as Fred Russell , point to the complete disbanding of the Motorsport team and the reassignment of Turn 10's resources to work on the more arcade-style Forza Horizon franchise , developed by Playground Games.
Turn 10 Studios cuts and Motorsport cancellation
July 2nd marked a turning point for Microsoft's gaming division. According to sources like Jason Schreier (Bloomberg) and posts from former employees, Turn 10 Studios lost approximately 50% of its staff , impacting all areas of the studio. Furthermore, the Forza Motorsport division has been permanently shut down, leaving the franchise without a team for future development.
Creative director Fred Russell , who worked at Turn 10 until 2016, has been particularly clear in stating that "the Motorsport team and space no longer exist ." Thus, all creative resources will be reserved for the Horizon series, while the main Motorsport line , focused on realistic circuit racing simulation, has no plans to continue or receive new installments.
The situation comes after a series of massive cuts at Microsoft , affecting nearly 9.000 employees across various divisions, including other studios such as The Initiative (which closed after the cancellation of Perfect Dark ) and ZeniMax Online. While there has been no official statement from Microsoft or Xbox, the general feeling within the industry reflects concern about the company's direction and the loss of trust among gamers.
Reasons behind the closure and the status of the franchise
Among the reasons that may have led to this drastic decision , according to industry analysts, are the low profitability of certain projects and Microsoft's need to optimize resources in the long term . The latest Forza Motorsport , released in 2023 for Xbox Series X/S and PC, was well-received by critics, but it doesn't seem to have met the commercial expectations demanded in a market dominated by heavyweight competitors like Gran Turismo 7.
The game adopted a games-as-a-service model and online modes, but the fan response was lukewarm compared to previous installments. Fred Russell has indicated that, following these changes and the halving of the staff, Turn 10 and Microsoft's preference is to focus their efforts on Forza Horizon , the most successful branch in terms of sales and international impact.
To date, the main Forza Motorsport series has eight installments since its debut in 2005. The latest, released in 2023, simply adopted the name "Forza Motorsport" without a number, in an attempt to reboot the franchise and attract new generations. The potential cancellation of the title would be the final chapter in the history of the series , which for years competed in popularity with franchises like Gran Turismo and Project CARS.
Impact on the industry and community reaction
The wave of layoffs and cancellations has been particularly noticeable in the case of Forza Motorsport , as it is one of the flagship series historically linked to the Xbox brand. The news has sparked widespread criticism on social media and specialized forums , where both fans and industry professionals are questioning Microsoft's strategy and expressing concern about the future of other major franchises.
The company's handling of information has been controversial, as there have been no official statements confirming or denying the closure of Forza Motorsport , fueling uncertainty and unease within the community. While awaiting clarifying actions from Microsoft, the general feeling is that the realistic racing series is now history, at least in the medium term.
News like this not only affects fans of racing games , but also hints at possible repercussions for other Xbox licenses that fail to achieve the expected results in the company's new business context.
