The Forza Motorsport Series Is Just Resting for Now, Says Phil Spencer

After months of speculation surrounding the fate of the Forza Motorsport franchise, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer has clarified that the series is not canceled, but rather “resting” while the company focuses resources elsewhere. His remarks came during an interview with Famitsu at the Tokyo Game Show 2025, where he discussed the future of several Xbox flagship titles, including Halo and Forza Motorsport.

Earlier this year, Turn 10 Studios, the developer behind the Forza Motorsport series, lost over 70 team members during a round of layoffs mandated by Microsoft. This restructuring led to reports suggesting that Turn 10 had been reduced to a support studio for Forza Horizon, sparking concern among fans that the Motorsport series might be quietly discontinued.

In the interview, Spencer was quick to deny that either Halo or Forza Motorsport had been shelved.

“No! Halo Studios is planning for the future and taking on new challenges. We're committed to Unreal Engine 5 and new technologies. We're committed to giving them the time they need to invest in the Halo franchise and create the next great game in the Halo series.”

When asked specifically about Forza Motorsport, Spencer explained that development priorities sometimes shift based on scheduling and project timelines, but reassured fans that the franchise remains part of Xbox’s long-term strategy.

“Regarding Forza Motorsport, we sometimes need to shift our focus to games that are released sooner. We understand the reaction many people had when we scaled back Turn10 Studios. We have a large number of games we want to support carefully, and sometimes we give development teams a little more time to avoid putting them under strain. Our current structure allows us this flexibility.”

He added that Xbox Game Studios, which now manages over 20 internal studios, maintains both short-term and long-term project plans, ensuring that legacy franchises like Forza Motorsport will return when the timing and resources align.

Despite the reassurance, fans remain cautious. The Forza Motorsport reboot, released in 2023 after a six-year gap, was met with mixed reviews. While it delivered strong visuals and realistic physics, many players criticized its limited content and lack of innovation compared to previous entries. This was a stark contrast to the series’ earlier rhythm, where a new Forza Motorsport installment launched every two years between 2005 and 2017.

The decline in enthusiasm for the simulation series has also been overshadowed by the massive popularity of its sister franchise, Forza Horizon, developed by Playground Games. The next entry, Forza Horizon 6, is confirmed to release in 2026 and will be set in Japan, one of the most requested locations by fans for years.

While Turn 10 Studios is taking a step back, Spencer’s comments suggest that Microsoft still values Forza Motorsport as an essential part of the Xbox ecosystem, even if it remains dormant for now.

Do you think Microsoft will be able to revive the Forza Motorsport franchise, or has Forza Horizon become the true future of Xbox racing? Share your thoughts below.