History VideoGame / Forza

* [[SkillGateCharacters Skill Gate Cars]]: [=SUV=]s end up as this in ''Horizon'', since their poor handling makes little difference when most cars are piling into the walls oin every corner whilst their large size and high weight work great for ramming, commonly used at low level as well as being the best vehicles off road. However, at higher or average levels, most people in smaller cars than an SUV can duck through their inside around a corner whilst the SUV driver is incapable of doing anything about it.

* SloMoBigAir: Since the third game in the ''Horizon'' series, going off some jumps will trigger this effect. The reason why this applies to "some" jumps is because you're more likely to see this during showcases, stories and expeditions than when you're driving about in the open world.

* StreamerFriendlyMode: ''Horizon 4'' has a "Streamer Mode" that removes all the in-game radio stations except for the Hospital Records station, prevents music from said other stations from being played as ambient background music when the radio is turned off (ie only Hospital Records tracks will be played as ambient background music), and also prevents any music from being played during loading segments for a race or in the post-race results screen when the radio is turned off (whereas with Streamer Mode off, shutting the radio off does not turn off the music during those segments). However, this option has to be manually re-enabled on each cold start of the game.

** To co-incide with Porsche coming to an Xbox One Forza title (''Horizon 2''), albeit as DLC, two Porsche models that were last featured as part of the Porsche DLC for ''Motorsport 4'', the 2012 911 [=GT2=] RS and Cayenne Turbo, were gifted to all players who logged in during the first week of the DLC's release. Due to the game not having an Auction House, these two Porsche models are unobtainable to anyone who didn't log in during that specified time period. For reasons unknown, however, one pack for ''Horizon 2'', the [[https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/store/playground-select-car-pack/bph1wgzjv8gp?ranMID=46134&ranEAID=t2R1djRI9u4&ranSiteID=t2R1djRI9u4-XmtpsCxi9f54IaHYCty9ZA&epi=t2R1djRI9u4-XmtpsCxi9f54IaHYCty9ZA&irgwc=1&OCID=AID2200057_aff_7809_1243925&tduid=%28ir__p3x3cxrr2gkftg3qkk0sohzz0v2xtkm903bnpiwl00%29%287809%29%281243925%29%28t2R1djRI9u4-XmtpsCxi9f54IaHYCty9ZA%29%28%29&irclickid=_p3x3cxrr2gkftg3qkk0sohzz0v2xtkm903bnpiwl00 Playground Select Car Pack]] was either re-listed in late February 2022, or was never delisted in the first place.

** The Mercedes-AMG GT R Black Series and the 2023 Chevrolet Corvette [=Z06=] both reuse the sound from a lower-trim model (The GT R for the former, and the [=E-Ray=] for the latter), even though both cars' respective engines has a major change to its internals, namely the use of a flat-plane crankshaft as a opposed to a cross-plane crankshaft. The former should, realistically speaking, sound closer to a turbocharged [=McLaren=] V8 engine, while the latter should sound more like a natrually-aspirated Ferrari V8.

*** In ''Horizon 4'', the purchaseable skills for the [=AE86=] references a lot of Initial D memes, from "Hachi-roku" to "Eurobeat Intensifies" and "Nani?!". Moreover, you can install a set of yellow foglights to it. In ''Horizon 5'', the DJ will give a shout out to Initial D fans after you perform enough Drift skills with the [=AE86=]
** Buying a Ford Falcon XB will give you the "[[Film/MadMax Last of the V8s]]" title

* ForestOfPerpetualAutumn: The fictional Maple Valley Raceway ''Motorsport'' track takes place in [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin a valley that is mostly packed with maple trees]]. It's also one of the few tracks in the ''Motorsport'' series that doesn't appear to take place during spring or summer.

** In the ''Motorsport'' reboot, for the "Hybrid Ferocity" championship that is part of Update 3's Featured Tour, the player is limited to sports, super-sport, and supercars equipped with some form of hybrid technology, such as the Ferrari 296 GTB (the championship's featured car) or the Chevrolet Corvette [=E-Ray=] (the game's cover car). However, the AI can, but the player cannot, [[https://puu.sh/JZgPv.png use non-hybrid cars]] for this championship.

* The eighth ''Forza Motorsport'', which [[StoppedNumberingSequels officially has no number]] or subtitle, is the first entry to be released on the Platform/XboxSeriesXAndS. It was released nearly 6 years after the previous entry on October 10, 2023, featuring various enhancements such as raytracing, improved physics, tire and fuel management in the pit stop, and dynamic time of day. It was a full reboot for the series (hence the lack of a number), [[RevisitingTheRoots refocusing on the core motorsport experience]] via new features like a persistent online racing weekend structure and newly refreshed versions of fan-favorite tracks such as Maple Valley Raceway.

* The eighth ''Forza Motorsport'', which [[StoppedNumberingSequels officially has no number]] or subtitle, will be the first entry to be released on the Platform/XboxSeriesXAndS. It was released nearly 6 years after the previous entry on October 10, 2023, featuring various enhancements such as raytracing, improved physics, tire and fuel management in the pit stop, and dynamic time of day. It will be a full reboot for the series (hence the lack of a number), [[RevisitingTheRoots refocusing on the core motorsport experience]] via new features like a persistent online racing weekend structure and newly refreshed versions of fan-favorite tracks such as Maple Valley Raceway.

* SlippySlideyIceWorld: The ''Blizzard Mountain'' expansion in ''Horizon 3'' and the entirety of the ''Horizon 4'' map in winter.

* NintendoHard: Any event with a field of R1 Le Mans Prototype cars and no assists. These cars have 6-700 horsepower but only weigh 900kg ''at most'', so the slightest twitch on the throttle is almost guaranteed to cause you to spin out and mash into a wall.
** ''Forza Motorsport 4'' can become just as hard as '''''VideoGame/FZero GX''''' or '''''VideoGame/MidnightClub: Los Angeles''''', if you win loads and loads of races.
** ''Forza Horizon'' games: [[HarderThanHard Insane or Unbeatable]] difficulty.
** Three stars on some events, but perhaps most especially the drift runs since these involve being able to drift without spinning or going off course, and being able to go forwards fast enough to beat the course timer - drift being the one challenge that cannot involve taking many cross country shortcuts.

* NonIdleRich: Zaki Malak in ''Horizon'' is an Arab prince with a serious love of cars and motorsports.
-->'''Zaki Malak''': I might have been born with a silver spoon in my mouth, but I also had grease under my nails.

--> '''Chris Harris:''' That’s the last time we leave Stig unattended. Am I the only one who remembers Budapest?

** In the "Motorsport" reboot, for the "Hybrid Ferocity" championship that is part of Update 3's Featured Tour, the player is limited to sports, super-sport, and supercars equipped with some form of hybrid technology, such as the Ferrari 296 GTB (the championship's featured car) or the Chevrolet Corvette [=E-Ray=] (the game's cover car). However, the AI can, but the player cannot, [[https://puu.sh/JZgPv.png use non-hybrid cars]] for this championship.

''Forza''[[note]]Italian for "force" or "strength", pronounced with a ''t'' before the ''z'' (''FORT-za''), like pizza[[/note]] is a semi-simulation RacingGame franchise for the UsefulNotes/{{Xbox}} brand of consoles and later [[UsefulNotes/MicrosoftWindows Windows]] published by Creator/XboxGameStudios. Created by their internal Creator/Turn10Studios division as ''Forza Motorsport'', which is aimed at competing with Creator/SonyInteractiveEntertainment and Creator/PolyphonyDigital's ''VideoGame/GranTurismo'' franchise, it is noted for an extensive car painting system, performance customization, and a massive car list. It is divided between two series; the original ''Forza Motorsport'' series by Turn 10, and the [[WideOpenSandbox open world]] driving series ''Forza Horizon'', developed by Creator/PlaygroundGames with Turn 10's assistance and more targeted at those who prefer more casual racing games such as Creator/ElectronicArts' ''VideoGame/NeedForSpeed''. Turn 10 also took a dip into the mobile market with ''Forza Street'' (2019–2022), a tap racer developed by Electric Square (initially as ''Miami Street'') similar to the likes of Creator/{{Bandai Namco|Entertainment}}'s ''[[VideoGame/RidgeRacer Drift Spirits]]'', but with some key differences such as corner-braking instead of drifting, and different dynamic camera angles. However, that spin-off wasn't well-regarded, and Turn 10 shuttered the game in 2022.

* ''Forza Motorsport 2'' (2007) was the first on the UsefulNotes/Xbox360, adding a storefront and auction site where people can buy and sell tuning setups, cars, and car designs. The point-to-point races from the first game was removed in favor of full-on circuit racing.

* ''Forza Motorsport 5'' (2013) was a launch title for the UsefulNotes/XboxOne, and is widely regarded as the console's very first KillerApp with ''VideoGame/DeadRising3''. Improvements over ''Motorsport 4'' include the ultra-high detail Autovista mode on ''every single car in the game'', cloud-based racing profiles - the game logs how you drive, and creates an AI profile on the Xbox Cloud which emulates exactly how you drive, on any track, dramatically improved graphics (especially in texture resolution and car/world lighting), and more realistic tire physics. The game can also simulate the advanced assists available on high-performance cars, such as the Nissan GT-R's high-tech launch control. Also, open-wheel cars make their debut, including vintage UsefulNotes/FormulaOne cars and [[UsefulNotes/IndyCar Dallara DW-12s.]]

* The eighth ''Forza Motorsport'', which [[StoppedNumberingSequels officially has no number]] or subtitle, will be the first entry to be released on the UsefulNotes/XboxSeriesXAndS. It was released nearly 6 years after the previous entry on October 10, 2023, featuring various enhancements such as raytracing, improved physics, tire and fuel management in the pit stop, and dynamic time of day. It will be a full reboot for the series (hence the lack of a number), [[RevisitingTheRoots refocusing on the core motorsport experience]] via new features like a persistent online racing weekend structure and newly refreshed versions of fan-favorite tracks such as Maple Valley Raceway.

* ''Forza Horizon 4'' (2018) takes place in UsefulNotes/{{Britain}}, with [[UsefulNotes/{{Scotland}} Edinburgh]] as a main city. It introduced dynamic seasons to the series, an online-connected open world (instead of just a separate mode) with 72-player servers,[[note]]although there is an option to play offline and solo with Drivatars[[/note]] customizable avatars like in ''Motorsport 7'' and even (after an update) a proper [[LevelEditor route editor]]. Microsoft also announced at E3 2018 that Playground Games is now officially part of Microsoft Studios (now Xbox Game Studios). As with previous entries, it received two expansions. The first expansion, ''Fortune Island'', was released on December 13, 2018. A spiritual successor to ''Horizon 2''[='=]s ''Storm Island'', it takes place on an island filled with large thunderstorms, aurora borealis, a hunt for "hidden treasure", and the "longest set of mountain switchback terrain" in what is the largest expansion in ''Horizon'' series history. The second expansion, ''LEGO Speed Champions'', was released on June 13, 2019. Itself a spiritual successor to ''Forza Horizon 3: Hot Wheels'' and based on the Franchise/{{Lego}} [[Toys/LegoSpeedChampions theme of the same name]], this expansion features Legofied versions of real cars, a world built with Lego bricks and pieces, an open-ended campaign, and a radio station called Radio Awesome, which features only one song... "[[WesternAnimation/TheLegoMovie Everything Is Awesome!!]]" Also, a December 2019 update added a whole new {{Battle Royale|Game}} mode called ''The Eliminator''; 72 cars enter, only one wins. In 2020, Horizon Promo came back and new updates added Photo Challenge (take a photo each week that matches one or two requirements) and Horizon Backstage (where some of the [[TemporaryOnlineContent Hard-to-Find cars]] can be obtained at any time by redeeming tokens, which are obtained by completing 50% of each season's challenges). The year would end with another expansion, ''[=Super7=]'', which brings back the Bucket Lists from the previous two games, but with an added LevelEditor via the Blueprint feature. Also, thanks to more updates, ''Forza Horizon 4'' is technically the first ''Forza'' game for UsefulNotes/XboxSeriesXAndS, running at 4K/60 FPS on the former.

-->-- '''Unknown female voice''' in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1cHm9NjIe0 the opening cinematic]] of ''Forza Horizon 2''

* The eighth ''Forza Motorsport'', which [[StoppedNumberingSequels officially has no number]] or subtitle, will be the first entry to be released on the UsefulNotes/XboxSeriesXAndS. Coming in 2023, it will feature enhancements such as raytracing, improved physics, tire and fuel management in the pit stop, and dynamic time of day. It will be a full reboot for the series (hence the lack of a number), [[RevisitingTheRoots refocusing on the core motorsport experince]] via new features like a persistant online racing weekend structure and newly refreshed versions of fan-favorite tracks such as Maple Valley Raceway.

** A standalone expansion of ''Horizon 2'' based on the ''[[Film/TheFastAndTheFurious Fast & Furious]]'' franchise called ''Forza Horizon 2 Presents Fast & Furious'' (2015) was released for both Xbox One and Xbox 360. The expansion takes place in a restricted version of the French side of the game's world before the events of ''Furious 7'', in which ''F&F'' regular Tej Parker (voiced by Christopher "Music/{{Ludacris}}" Bridges himself) has the player go on the hunt for ten cars by doing events to earn them. While it does take away several features,[[note]]No car customization, no multiplayer on Xbox 360, a shorter (though unique) campaign, fewer Bucket List events, only twelve cars, unable to go to Italy or certain areas in France, etc.[[/note]] it does add [[NitroBoost nitrous]] to the series (but only for certain events) and it has its own set of easy-to-earn achievements that goes up to one thousand (!) Gamerscore. The expansion was free for a limited time until April 10, 2015, after which the expansion cost US$10 for those who missed out on the free deal. Eight of the expansion pack's vehicles are also available in a separate DLC for the main game which costs US$5. Both versions of the standalone expansion were delisted from the Xbox Games Store in January 2018.

** ''Forza Horizon 2'' received a standalone expansion to promote ''[[Film/TheFastAndTheFurious Furious 7]]''. It involves various challenges using cars from the latest film. All the new cars from this standalone barring Brian's GT-R are available through ''Furious 7 Car Pack'' for the base game. ''Motorsport 6'' also got its own ''Fast & Furious'' car pack, this time featuring ten cars from different films of the franchise. ''Motorsport 7'' also got a car pack based on ''The Fate of the Furious'' and includes ten cars from the film.

** ''Forza Horizon 2 Presents [[Film/TheFastAndTheFurious Fast & Furious]]'' is a standalone example that is essentially a limited version of the full game (or, looking at it another way, a glorified demo with its own achievements that happens to be an advergame for a film as well) with Ludacris guiding the player through various events to find cars found in the film series. It's also the only expansion of the game for the Xbox 360 version of ''Horizon 2'', but ''Horizon 2 Presents F&F'' on 360 is entirely self-contained, as none of the twelve cars can be transferred to the main game, whereas on the Xbox One version [[BribingYourWayToVictory you have to buy the separate]] ''Furious 7'' car pack to get those cars (although finding and smashing all twenty reward boards does unlock a car in the main game's garage).

** Also, every second expansion of the ''Horizon'' sequels are this as a cross-promotion, with ''Horizon 2'' having a Porsche expansion and a ''[[Film/TheFastAndTheFurious Fast & Furious]]'' standalone expansion, ''Horizon 3'' having a Hot Wheels expansion, and ''Horizon 4'' getting a Toys/{{Lego}} expansion.

** The nickname feature in ''Horizon 3'' and ''4'' are full of these. You have [[WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons Bort]], [[VideoGame/MetalGear Big Boss]], [[VideoGame/TheCurseOfMonkeyIsland El Pollo Diablo]], [[Film/TheFastAndTheFurious Dom]] and [[Film/TopGun Maverick and Goose]] for examples.

** Some of the Accolades found in ''Horizon 5'', such as "[[Series/TheGrandTour The Holy Trinity]]",[[note]]Own a 2013 [=McLaren=] P1, 2013 Ferrari [=LaFerrari=], and a 2014 Porsche 918 Spyder[[/note]] "[[Film/TheFastAndTheFurious I Don't Have Cars, I Have Family]]",[[note]]Own a 1969 Dodge Charger R/T, 1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX, 1998 Toyota Supra RZ, 1993 Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec, and a 1997 Mazda RX-7[[/note]] and "[[Franchise/{{Pokemon}} A Wild Challenge Card Appears!]]".[[note]]Complete a Challenge Card in Freeroam[[/note]]

** ''Horizon 5'' sees the return of Mitsubishi, Toyota and Lexus in the vanilla roster, but FCA/Stellantis brands like Abarth, Alfa Romeo, and Lancia were not seen in the game until an update two years later.

** ''Horizon 5'' sees the return of Mitsubishi, Toyota and Lexus in the vanilla roster, but gone are FCA/Stellantis brands like Abarth, Alfa Romeo, and Lancia. However, some Accolades require cars from these brands, suggesting they are likely to return through free updates or Seasonal Events.

* LongTitle: The standalone expansion to ''Horizon 2'' is officially titled ''Forza Horizon 2 Presents Fast & Furious''.

** Beginning with ''Forza Motorsport 6'', all Chevrolet cars with SS branding have had their SS badges removed (eg. Compare the 1969 Camaro SS in [[https://forza.fandom.com/wiki/File:FM5_Chevrolet_Camaro-1969.jpg Motorsport 5]] and [[https://forza.fandom.com/wiki/File:FM6_Chevy_Camaro_1969.jpg Motorsport 6]]) and the SS un-abbreviated to what it stands for, Super Sport, [[NoSwastikas to prevent potential confusion and association of Chevrolet's SS branding with the Waffen-SS]].

The games (sans ''Street'') usually feature monthly new car DLC - one free car (usually a new-model-year of an in-game car) available for everyone, and a mix of other cars which require purchase. ''Forza Motorsport 4'' had monthly $7 packs of ten cars (most of which could be purchased on their own). ''Horizon'' 1 had $5 packs of six cars. Starting with ''Motorsport 5'', all DLC cars have been available to buy for free in-game upon buying their respective DLC. ''Horizon 4'' shook things up first by releasing two DLC cars every week instead, while adding [[TemporaryOnlineContent new cars (between three and eight per update) to win for free in monthly updates]] since the game launched (37 updates by the end of the game's development in June 2021!). Additionally, each of the main games and their DLC were normally digitally available for four years from their release before [[KeepCirculatingTheTapes they are delisted from the Xbox and Windows stores]]. However, ''Horizon 4'' broke that trend as [[https://forums.forza.net/t/fh4-end-of-life/556886/3 a Turn 10 community manager stated that]] "we're not planning on delisting ''Forza Horizon 4'' anytime soon!" However, the online servers for all versions of the first two ''Forza Horizon'' games (including the ''Fast & Furious'' standalone expansion of ''Horizon 2'') will go offline on August 22, 2023, due to low player counts.

The games (sans ''Street'') usually feature monthly new car DLC - one free car (usually a new-model-year of an in-game car) available for everyone, and a mix of other cars which require purchase. ''Forza Motorsport 4'' had monthly $7 packs of ten cars (most of which could be purchased on their own). ''Horizon'' 1 had $5 packs of six cars. Starting with ''Motorsport 5'', all DLC cars have been available to buy for free in-game upon buying their respective DLC. ''Horizon 4'' shook things up first by releasing two DLC cars every week instead, while adding [[TemporaryOnlineContent new cars (between three and eight per update) to win for free in monthly updates]] since the game launched (37 updates by the end of the game's development in June 2021!). Additionally, each of the main games and their DLC were normally digitally available for four years from their release before [[KeepCirculatingTheTapes they are delisted from the Xbox and Windows stores]]. However, ''Horizon 4'' broke that trend as [[https://forums.forza.net/t/fh4-end-of-life/556886/3 a Turn 10 community manager stated that]] "we're not planning on delisting ''Forza Horizon 4'' anytime soon!"