Summary
For fans of simulation racing, the release ofForza Motorsporton Xbox Game Pass in early October was likely seen as a welcome addition to Microsoft’s massive library. While there are plenty ofarcade-style racing gameson Game Pass, the Turn 10 Studios title represents one of the few sim racing games on the service. Its arrival on the platform gives those looking for a bit more challenge as they speed around the track an alternative to the arcade racing ofForza Horizon 5and shows why there’s plenty of room for two AAAForzatitles on Game Pass.
While the release of the originalForza Motorsportin 2005 kicked off theForzafranchise, Microsoft’s alternative toSony’sGran Turismoserieseventually found itself taking the backseat to the arcade-styleForza Horizongames in many players’ minds. With a far more casual feel and races that took place in lush, open-world locales, the spin-off series established a laid-back formula that was polished to perfection withForza Horizon 5. By making its simulation gameplay more accessible than ever and applying lessons from the success of its arcade-focused counterpart to the realm of real-world racing,Forza Motorsportshows why both series are worthy of a place on the Game Pass roster.
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Forza Motorsport Makes It Easy for Horizon Fans to Make the Leap to Sim Racing
Rather than excluding players more familiar withForza Horizon 5’s freeform format, the numerousaccessibility features inForza Motorsportmake the game welcoming to even casual racers. This lets players looking for more realism after years of cruising aroundForza Horizon 5’s digital doppelganger of Mexico hop into the game without feeling overwhelmed by systems targeted squarely at sim racing fans. WhileForza Motorsport’s simulation focus stays front and center no matter which options players choose, it’s still possible to make its cars handle similarly to their arcade counterparts.
By enabling options like traction and stability control, fans ofForza Horizon 5can ease themselves into the strictly regimented world of simulation racing found inForza Motorsport. This can make the move from the fairly forgiving driving mechanics in the spin-off series to theover 500 cars inForza Motorsport, each designed to handle like the real-world machine that inspired it, more manageable. Seasoned gearheads can also choose to forego these assistance options, of course, and dive into a sim racing experience that’s benefited heavily from the success of its arcade-focused counterpart.
Turn 10 Studios’ Forza Motorsport is a Beneficiary of Forza Horizon 5’s Success
While the track-focused format ofForza Motorsportmay seem worlds away from the wide-ranging mix of events found in Playground Games’Forza Horizon 5, it benefits heavily from the success of the arcade-focused title. This is most evident when looking at the stunning visuals found in the former title. The same ForzaTech engine that brought the mountains and beaches ofForza Horizon 5’s Mexicoto lifehas been refined for Turn 10 Studios’ recent release, allowing for tracks that look virtually identical to their real-world counterparts.
The success ofForza Horizon 5also helped bring increased awareness to the launch ofForza Motorsport.Following the massive success of the former game on Xbox Game Pass, players who’d previously stuck to arcade-style racers were likely more willing to give the latter a spin given the renewed popularity of the franchise in the wake ofForza Horizon 5. Even if players ultimately decide that theclosed-track racing inForza Motorsportisn’t for them, its inclusion in the Game Pass library means they can give it a shot without paying the high price of a retail copy of the game.
Simultaneously offering the in-depth mechanics demanded by sim racing purists and the accessibility options necessary to draw in newcomers to the format,Forza Motorsportis a perfect pairing with the arcade adventures ofForza Motorsport 5. And with each game offering its own uniquely appealing and polished spin on the racing genre, it’s clear that there’s more than enough room for two AAAForzatitles on Game Pass.
Forza Motorsportis available for PC and Xbox Series X/S.
