The motorsports experts at Turn 10 Studios showed up to the Xbox Games Showcase to reveal the next generation of Forza Motorsport though they don't label it Forza Motorsport 8. Taking over for Project Gotham Racing at the tail end of the original Xbox console's life (RIP Bizzare Creations), Forza Motorsport and its sister series Forza Horizon has been Microsoft's go-to driving franchise ever since. It's also traditionally been a yearly franchise, but it seems that it will not premiere this year alongside Microsoft's new console.
In the modern age, there are two breeds of Forza Motorsport. The classic series is where you get the most serious racing action, a franchise similar to Sony's Gran Turismo or the Project Cars franchise. You get established tracks and licensed cars racing in known events around the world. Forza Horizon, developed by Playground Games, was an attempt to bring more levity to the franchise, a split between the series' simulation roots and arcade sensibilities. This included a different global locale each time and more freeform activities like finding wrecks in barns and spotlight races against all manner of aircraft.
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A reimagining of the long-running, best-in-class racing franchise, the studio hopes to take what made the Forza name the first in racing games and pair it with new game concepts and the 4K graphics and technological advantages of the new Xbox Series X. The studio promises "surfaces of cars reflecting off each other, brilliant red paint bouncing off intensely detailed track surfaces, and interplay between light and shadow throughout the world." Ray tracing is also coming to what the developers call "ForzaTech", meaning that the game will shine brightest when played on beefy PCs or Xbox Series X.
Xbox Wire notes that the newest entry in the series is just now in early development, meaning that it won't be ready for this holiday's Xbox Series X launch period. To make up for that, there will be a significant update to Forza Horizon 4, the last game in the series from Playground Games. Using Smart Delivery, Xbox One owners of the game can take their purchase forward into the next generation with native 4K Ultra HD graphics and 60FPS gameplay. Considering how many expansions and updates have come to that game since its release, lapsed players of all stripes will have plenty to enjoy on their new machine around Christmas.
The new Forza Motorsport (note the lack of a number) will take place in an interconnected world like previous entries, but with the added benefits of speed that the Series X's SSD hard drive can provide. While it may be disappointing to race fans that the next Forza isn't right around the corner, the franchise breaking its yearly traditions could mean more innovation, less stagnation, and perhaps even less reliance on the microtransactions that have plagued some previous entries. Forza Motorsport will be available on Xbox Series X and PC on Xbox Game Pass some time in the future.
Source: Xbox/YouTube, Xbox Wire