The original Forza Horizon is set against the backdrop of a fictional automotive music festival – the Horizon Festival. This robust music list includes over 65 songs spanning more than 60 artists and was curated and created specifically for the game by Rob da Bank, a BBC DJ and creator of the Bestival music festivals in Europe. Players can tune into three distinct radio stations while playing “Forza Horizon,” each with a different style of music and each with its own authentic DJ giving players Horizon Festival updates.

Forza Horizon 2 is taking racing fans some places the series has never gone before: off the track, through the rain, and around the diverse landscapes of Southern Europe.

The aforementioned off-roading is just one of the many new features gamers can expect from Forza Horizon 2, but the ability to crash through fences, plow through forests and cornfields, and even find secret cars hidden in barns is certainly one of the coolest features at play here.

Online features include Car Clubs that hold up to 1,000 members, seamless drop-in/drop-out free-roaming multiplayer, and for Xbox One owners, the return of Drivatars (so you can compete with your friends, even when you're riding solo).

Of course, it's all about the cars, and Forza Horizon 2 has over 200 of them, including the stunning cover car, the Lamborghini Huracan. The muscle cars, tuner cars, and exotics are all in here, along with off-road vehicles for that new bumpier terrain. And every car features a full cockpit view, along with working windshield wipers and headlights, which will come in handy at night... in the rain.

That’s right, Forza Horizon 2 also features full day/night cycles and weather effects, which play out through the massive living world. You’ll get to race through Southern Europe dodging traffic, chasing down bullet trains and airplanes, and pulling off awesome stunts, all in an effort to make a name for yourself at the Horizon Festival.

As these games now have a very small player population, we’ll be closing online services for Forza Horizon 1 and Forza Horizon 2 on August 22, 2023 so that we can focus on our most current games. Please note that due to the age of these games and their services, access to online functionality even prior to the official closure date is not guaranteed.

While the single-player experience in both games will remain playable, any online functionality such as matchmaking, leaderboards and the browsing and downloading of online User Generated Content (UGC) including liveries, vinyls, tuning setups, and photos will not be available from August 22, 2023.

We know our community has fond memories of exploring Colorado and Southern Europe in Forza Horizon 1 and 2, from meeting new friends on road trips to sharing liveries, photos and tunes, and we thank you all for your incredible passion, support and dedication over the last decade.

Q: What does this closure mean for the online features in other Forza Horizon games, such as Forza Horizon 3 and Forza Horizon 4?
A: Online features in Forza Horizon 3 and Forza Horizon 4 are unaffected by this closure and will continue to function like before.

Q: Does this impact both the Xbox 360 and Xbox One versions of Forza Horizon 2, as well as the standalone Forza Horizon 2 Presents Fast & Furious?
A: Yes, online services for all versions of Forza Horizon 2 will close on August 22, 2023.

Q: If I already own Forza Horizon 1 and/or Forza Horizon 2, can I redownload these games after August 22, 2023?
A: Players who already own Forza Horizon 1 and/or Forza Horizon 2 can continue to download and access the single-player portions of these games even after the online services close on August 22, 2023.

Q: Can I buy Forza Horizon or Forza Horizon 2 before August 22, 2023?
A: No. Forza Horizon 1 and Forza Horizon 2 were already delisted from the Microsoft Store.

Q: Will this change affect how I play these games on Xbox One or Xbox Series X|S through backwards compatibility?
A: No, as we are just closing the online services for Forza Horizon 1 and Forza Horizon 2, you will still be able to play the single-player portions of these games on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S through backwards compatibility.

Q: What exactly in Forza Horizon and Forza Horizon 2 will be switched off?
A: All online features and services in these games will be disabled on August 22, 2023. This includes but is not limited to: all activities that rely on online matchmaking, such as races, game modes, free roam and car meets, all online leaderboards, and the browsing, downloading and sharing of online UGC such as liveries, vinyls, tuning setups, and photos.