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In a surprising and deeply unfortunate turn of events, Microsoft have fired nearly 50 per cent of the workforce at Turn 10 Studios and reportedly shut down the Forza Motorsport team entirely as part of the latest wave of layoffs at the Xbox division.
The news comes from former Turn 10 developer Fred Russell, who shared his thoughts on Facebook. According to Russell, the team that worked on the popular Forza Motorsport series is no more, and all that is left at the Redmond-based studio is a small team that will support the Forza Horizon franchise. "Turn 10 Studios has shuttered the Forza Motorsport space and the team is no more," he said. "The studio is open to support the Horizon side... shuttered the Forza Motorsport side only."
If true, this marks a shocking end for a franchise that helped define modern racing games. Forza Motorsport first debuted in 2005 and was widely regarded as Microsoft’s answer to Sony’s Gran Turismo. Over the years, the series built a strong following thanks to its realistic driving physics, car customisation, and focus on competitive track racing.
The most recent entry, simply titled Forza Motorsport, launched in October 2023 and was intended as a reboot for the series. While the game introduced new simulation features and impressive visuals, it struggled to win over fans at launch. Players criticised it for a lack of content, underdeveloped progression systems, and various technical issues.
Despite some great ongoing updates, it never quite managed to shake the feeling of being unfinished, something that likely contributed to the franchise’s uncertain future.
The reported shutdown of the Motorsport team arrives during a turbulent period for Microsoft’s gaming division. The company recently announced major layoffs impacting thousands of employees across multiple studios, including developers at The Initiative, Bethesda, Rare, and other Xbox teams.
While there has been no official statement from Microsoft or Turn 10 Studios confirming the permanent closure of the Motorsport team, it's very likely that the info provided by Russel is legit, given his history with the studio.
For now, it seems the future of simulation-focused racing under the Forza brand is on indefinite hold. Meanwhile, the more arcade-inspired Forza Horizon series will continue to fly the flag for Xbox racing fans.
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