Phil Spencer swears Forza Motorsport isn’t dead — just parked indefinitely

Forza Motorsport is the realistic racing game from Xbox, created by Turn 10 Studios. It’s different from the more casual Forza Horizon, which is made by Playground Games. The 2023 version of Forza Motorsport was a complete overhaul of the series, and it was generally well-received by critics. Players loved how it looked and how the cars handled, but some were disappointed with the career mode, how you progress in the game, and the limited amount of content available when it first launched.

Turn 10 Studios recently experienced job cuts as Microsoft plans for 2025. This led some fans to worry that the Motorsport series might be discontinued, with Microsoft instead focusing on Forza Horizon, which is more popular and profitable.

Phil Spencer reassures fans: Turn 10 just needs time

During a recent Famitsu interview, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer addressed concerns about the future of the Forza Motorsport series. When asked if the franchise had been cancelled, he firmly stated, “No!” He then elaborated on the topic.

With Forza Motorsport, we occasionally need to prioritize games launching sooner. We also recognize the concerns people had regarding the recent changes at Turn 10 Studios. We want to support many games thoughtfully, and sometimes that means giving our development teams extra time to avoid burnout and maintain a healthy work environment.

Phil Spencer- Executive Vice President, Gaming at Microsoft

Despite recent layoffs at Turn 10, Spencer has confirmed that Forza Motorsport hasn’t been cancelled. It’s simply being put on the back burner as Xbox prioritizes other games. Spencer’s acknowledgement of the franchise and fans’ worries is encouraging, and his comment about ‘giving the team more time’ hints that future Forza Motorsport plans are still being developed.

While Microsoft is saying the right things, many fans are having trouble believing them because of recent actions. It’s clear that what a company *does* is more important than what it says.

Xbox’s uphill climb

According to Jason Schreier, Microsoft’s finance chief, Amy Hood, is pushing the company’s gaming division to achieve surprisingly high profit margins – 30%. This is significantly higher than the typical 10-20% seen across the gaming industry.

Becoming profitable seems to be a key reason behind the recent layoffs and the increasing number of Xbox games being released on platforms like PlayStation 5, with Forza Horizon 5 being a prime example.

Many Xbox fans are currently worried about the future of the platform. Recent studio closures, project cancellations, and layoffs have made it hard to feel positive. The company’s plan to expand Xbox beyond consoles – aiming for “Xbox everywhere” – hasn’t yet resonated with fans, who see it as more of an ambitious goal than a realistic plan.

Patience and polish

Right now, we have to trust Phil Spencer when he says Forza Motorsport isn’t cancelled – just delayed to prevent overworking the team and releasing an unfinished game. However, recent layoffs at Turn 10 Studios make that claim hard to accept.

Forza Motorsport has historically demonstrated the capabilities of Xbox consoles, and it’s likely to do so again with Microsoft’s next gaming system. Microsoft’s Phil Spencer has confirmed they are developing new hardware themselves, rather than relying on another company to build it.

Even with recent layoffs and people losing faith in Xbox, it’s good to see that Turn 10 Studios is being allowed the time to develop a truly worthwhile game instead of being forced to rush something out. We can only hope to see the benefits of this approach—unless Microsoft decides to move funding towards its growing AI projects. A change like that could jeopardize not only Turn 10, but other creative studios such as Double Fine and Compulsion Games as well.

Good news for Forza fans: the next installment, Forza Horizon 6, is coming next year and will be set in Japan.

FAQ

Is Forza Motorsport cancelled?

Phil Spencer has confirmed the game isn’t canceled, but development has slowed down as Xbox concentrates on other priorities.

Why did fans think it was cancelled?

Recent layoffs at Turn 10 Studios, part of Microsoft’s 2025 restructuring, led to rumors that the *Motorsport* racing game series had been canceled to focus on the more successful *Forza Horizon*.

What exactly did Spencer say?

In a recent interview with Famitsu, he explained that the team occasionally needs to prioritize games with closer release dates. He also mentioned they sometimes give the Forza Motorsport development team extra time to avoid overworking them.

Why the skepticism?

Xbox has often closed game studios, cancelled games in development, and changed its plans. Because of this, fans are skeptical when Microsoft offers positive statements, as those statements haven’t always aligned with what’s actually happened.

What’s next for Forza fans?

The next *Forza Horizon* game, *Forza Horizon 6*, is anticipated to be set in Japan and released next year. A new *Motorsport* title might follow, possibly to demonstrate the capabilities of the next Xbox, but there are no official confirmations yet.

2025-10-25 16:42