HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — The gaming community is facing a bittersweet farewell as the racing video game juggernaut Forza Horizon 4 is set to be delisted from digital platforms on Sunday, December 15.
In the Forza series, players race a wide array of vehicles across visually impressive courses. The Horizon sub-series is more about open-world racing and freedom to explore. They are known for high-quality graphics, realistic car models, and diverse driving experiences.
Game publisher Microsoft said in a June announcement that the move was due to licensing and partner agreements, though it did not go into detail about those partnerships. As a result, the game will no longer be available for purchase on the Microsoft Store and Steam digital storefront. Downloadable content (DLC) for the game was removed from sale when this initial announcement was made.
Players who have already purchased the game or its content will still be able to access and play it as normal, including both online and offline features.
Physical copies of Forza Horizon 4 will continue to have online functionality, Microsoft said.
The wind-down of Forza Horizon 4 as an ongoing interactive game began in August, with the final seasonal special event, "Series 77" and its associated Festival Playlist, a series of challenges players are tasked to complete.
Microsoft said players can continue to engage with previously published Forza Events, including daily and weekly challenges, and participate in Forzathon Live Events to earn Forzathon Points, which can be redeemed for Backstage Passes.