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Forza Motorsport 5 gets three free Hondas in Legends pack
Though Forza Motorsport 5 is an undeniably brazen example of modern microtransactions, developer Turn 10 does occasionally offer new content to players free of charge. For example, the new Honda Legends Car Pack. Created to celebrate the real-world unveiling of Honda's 2014 Civic Si, the Honda Legends Car Pack includes three cars: the aforementioned Civic, the 1984 Honda Civic CRX Mugen and the 1994 Honda Prelude Si. "All three of these cars represent the excitement and pure driving spirit that embodies Honda cars," says the Pack's description on the official Forza 5 website. Acquiring the Honda Legends Car Pack is as easy as finding and downloading the DLC on the Xbox One marketplace. As is standard for Forza 5 DLC, this will introduce the three cars into the game's dealership, where they can be purchased using your race winnings or by exchanging real-world cash for the requisite number of tokens. Still, it's free to get the pack inside the dealership. [Image: Turn 10 Studios]
Forza 5 December update slashes car prices, adds new modes
A substantial update coming to Forza 5 this month – perhaps as early as next week – will make it easier to stock your virtual garage with expensive vehicles. Prices for on-disc cars will be slashed almost in half (down 45%, to be exact), IGN reports, while racers will also accumulate money much faster after the update. On top of that, developer Turn 10 is adding a pair of new game modes: Drag Racing and Tag. In Drag Racing, up to 16 players can hop into a lobby and challenge other drivers in one-on-one straightaway races or simultaneous drag races for up to eight players at a time. The setup sounds quite similar to the Forza 4 version of drag racing. Tag is a bit more complex with three different variants on the classic children's game: One player is designated as "it" and must run from the other players to win; one player is "it" and, upon tagging other drivers, will cause them to be "it" as well, with the last standing untouched driver winning the match; and in the last variant, one player begins the match as "it" and must tag other players to pass the "it" status, with the player having been tagged the least amount of times winning the match. "We based our economy largely on Forza Motorsport 4 data," Turn 10 creative director Dan Greenawalt told IGN. "The earn rate [in Forza 5] should have been the same," Greenawalt added, assuring that Turn 10 is "making updates pretty quickly and painlessly" and will continue to do so based on input from the Forza 5 community.
Microsoft: Over 50 million hours logged on Xbox Ones since launch
In the realm of esoteric statistics, Microsoft announced that over 50 million hours in "games and entertainment" have been logged on Xbox One systems since it launched on November 22. The console manufacturer added that over 415 million Gamerscore points were unlocked via achievements on the system. Microsoft also noted a few other in-game milestones achieved in individual Xbox One games, such as the number of miles driven in Forza 5 globally (90 million), zombies killed in Dead Rising 3 (three billion), combos achieved in Killer Instinct (150 million) and enemies defeated in Ryse: Son of Rome (186 million). By comparison, EA announced that over 140 million gameplay minutes were logged in its games on PS4 in the console's opening five days. To add to today's numbers, Sony announced that global PS4 sales exceed 2.1 million, though we're not certain how that translates to hours spent or zombies destroyed or how close that is to the moon when you stack them all, etc.
Director defends Forza 5's slender structure
While the past few Forza Motorsport entries have offered players new packs of additional cars long after each game's debut, Forza 5 takes things to a whole new level. Our largely positive review described the game as enjoyable but anemic, but Forza creative director Dan Greenawalt stands by the team's design choices. In a Shacknews interview, Greenawalt was asked why so much content appears to be missing from Forza 5 while developer Turn 10 Studios continues to promote upcoming DLC additions that should flesh out the racing simulation. "Forza Motorsport 5 is actually the largest racing game ever delivered at the launch of a console, by a long shot," Greenawalt states. "In fact, it would be huge even by second holiday standards. As mentioned above, it is bigger than Forza 2, which was delivered a year and half after the launch of the Xbox 360. It also has more car diversity than any previous Forza Motorsport; by including open wheel race cars and track toys like the KTM X-Bow and the Ariel Atom on top of the diversity that took us years to build up across multiple iterations on the Xbox 360. "Moreover, we've defined an uncompromised quality bar for new generation racing games in both car and track detail and immersion - all while, delivering unprecedented size," Greenawalt says. "Regarding DLC, we have found that 10 cars a month is the fastest we could create "just in time" content. Just like in Forza Motorsport 4, we are planning to add as many as 10 cars a month to Forza Motorsport 5. It takes more than six months to build every car. Delivering cars in monthly packs allows us to keep the game new and fresh for those that are interested." When asked why Forza 5 is missing the iconic Nürburgring track, Greenawalt explains that the new graphics engine in Forza 5 necessitates that all tracks be rebuilt from scratch. While other famed racetracks like Spa were able to make an appearance in Forza 5, there just wasn't time to reproduce the lengthy, complex Nürburgring for the new engine, so instead of porting low-resolution content from Forza 4, the team opted to leave the track absent. "Expect more news on tracks in Forza Motorsport 5 in the near future," Greenawalt added.
Every car in Forza 5 is half off this weekend, credit payout increasing in December
Turn 10 Studios is discounting every car in Forza Motorsport 5 by 50 percent from Friday, November 29 through Sunday, December 1 following community feedback for the game. The developer is also offering VIP members the 2013 Lotus E21 grand prix car for free and the 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO for those that already purchased the E21. Turn 10 is also changing the game's economy by "dramatically increasing the credit payout available to all Forza players" in the month of December through its Forza Rewards loyalty program. The developer notes that the higher a player's tier level is before Sunday, the better the rewards will be, so those that spend extra time in Forza 5 in the coming days will see a nicer payout next month. Additionally, the developer admitted that the 1,250 in-game credits packed with the limited edition version of the game isn't enough to buy any car in the game as advertised. To make up for it, limited edition owners will soon be able to download an on-disc car of their choice for free. Owners of the LaFerrari launch car pack or the Forza 5 car pass will also receive the 2013 LaFerrari for free.
Forza Motorsport 5 review: Cloud strife
We'll be rolling out Xbox One review coverage all the way through launch on November 22. Read all of our news and reviews right here! I slide through the Bernese alps in an immaculate Ferrari F12 Berlinetta, colored to match the mountain's bright white blanket. I've never driven this car, on this road, in my life, but I have glided home on a highway late at night, just content with the motion, the guiding curvature of the road, the world hurtling by. This is something similar, I think, but with much better scenery. And with that scenery comes a certain serenity at last. I glance in my rear-view mirror and - oh no. No, no no no. It's him. He's found me amongst the frosty peaks of Europe. Behind me is a simulated driver in a demon-red Ferrari, bearing the name "XrayAlfaVictor." It's the name of the internet servant, the "Drivatar," belonging to my coworker Xav. His Drivatar is here to kill me.
Forza Motorsport 5's 'Car Pass' is $50
Microsoft detailed its DLC plans for the Xbox One launch title Forza Motorsport 5, revealing that it will offer a $49.99 "Car Pass" that collects the game's first six batches of add-on content. Developer Turn 10 will release a selection of new cars for Forza Motorsport 5 monthly, and players will be able to purchase vehicles either a la carte or via discounted "Car Pack" bundles. Microsoft notes that the Car Pass offers an 18 percent savings over buying each pack individually, suggesting that Car Packs will be priced at around $10 apiece. The LaFerrari hypercar, pictured above, headlines a 10-vehicle Car Pack launching alongside Forza Motorsport 5 on November 22.
Monthly DLC car packs return in Forza 5
Turn 10 Studios has revealed plans to continue its tradition of releasing bursts of exotic (and ironically mundane) vehicles each month in Forza Motorsport 5. As the studio points out, Forza 4 saw 12 downloadable, monthly car packs. It's unknown how many Forza 5 will receive, but we do know that each pack will include 10 cars, all of which will feature full Forzavista support, allowing players to pop the hood or check the interior in detail. Though pricing information for these DLC packs is currently unknown, Turn 10 has also revealed a "Car Pass" promotion that will allow players to purchase the first six planned additions all at once. There's currently no information on how much this Pass might cost, but that should be appearing soon, alongside more information on "a very special inclusion in the first add-on pack for Forza Motorsport 5."
Forza Motorsport 5 vacations to Belgium for a speedy gameplay trailer
Developer Turn 10 takes us for a leisurely drive around the Spa Francorchamps circuit in Belgium for Forza Motorsport 5's latest trailer. During this abbreviated lap, you'll get an early look at the Xbox One launch title's finer features, including its advanced reflection detail and subtle damage modeling, the latter of which becomes apparent following "accidental" scrapes with rival drivers.
Four new Forza Motorsport 5 rides revealed
Developer Turn 10 has revealed four new fresh whips from the Forza Motorsport 5 roster this week: the 2012 Nissan GT-R Black Edition (above), 1967 Lamborghini Miura P400, 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black Series, and the 2007 Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione. Microsoft's flagship racing franchise launches alongside the Xbox One on November 22.
Xbox One's modular racing accessories exposed
Accessories have been upgraded on the Xbox One to be more modular, Microsoft's Director of Strategic Alliance Brandan Powell explains in the video segment above. This modularity allows players to add components to their initial investment over time: You can buy a racing wheel for Need for Speed Rivals or Forza Motorsport 5, Powell says, then add gauges or custom pedal types for a more personalized set-up. Powell also says hardware now has more nuanced force feedback options. Developers, using new feedback equations within the game code, can create a more dynamic range of feedback as opposed to the sort of "canned" responses that felt so uniform in previous hardware iterations. Controller pairing, which uses Kinect to determine who a player is, is another feature hardware accessories should be able to utilize. When playing with friends on the same couch, each of whom may prefer different control schemes, Kinect will seamlessly match the appropriate profile and controls to that player, mitigating the need to dive into the settings menu. We imagine this will be a big help when sharing a racing wheel with 80 buttons on it between a couch crowded with friends.
Forza 5 developer unveils 17 new cars
To kick off its weekly Forza Motorsport 5 Showroom promotional effort, Turn 10 Studios has unveiled a swath of new rides. Some of these have been seen before, but today marks their official announcement as part of the game. The focus of this week's Showroom is on three sports cars that should be familiar to fans of virtual racing: the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X GSR, the 2009 Zonda Cinque Roadster and the 2002 Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec II. Turn 10 offers in-game screenshots and detailed descriptions of each of these rides at its official Forza 5 blog, so if you've somehow never driven these arguably commonplace cars in the virtual world, that would be a good place to hone your gearhead knowledge. The remaining 14 cars in today's reveal don't get the full description treatment, but are instead simply listed by name.
Forza Rewards program keeps your franchise career on track
That's right – we call playing multiple games in the same series a "career" now. It's a sensible term for Microsoft's Forza franchise, which now rewards players for their loyalty and unwavering quest to earn the glossiest models on the Nüburgring catwalk. The Forza Rewards program tracks your progress across multiple Forza Motorsport games, starting at Forza Motorsport 2 and extending to recent games like Forza 4 and Forza Horizon. In-game progress translates to a universal pool of points, which corresponds to several tiers of rewards that can take the form of in-game currency, tokens and cars (also in-game). You're welcome to compare your progress to other players as well, but we don't recommend obsessing over tier pressure in a game like this. If Forza's cross-game consistency sounds familiar, it's because of Microsoft's Halo Waypoint, a similar (though not as actively rewarding) program that spans the space-faring series. Just think of it as trading the lore for, umm, DeLoreans?
Forza 5 Limited Edition is $80, available for pre-order
Forza Motorsport 5 has a special Limited Edition version that is available for pre-order now for $80, Microsoft announced. The special edition includes a five car pack with the 2011 Audi RS 3 Sportback, 2012 Aston Martin Vanquish, 2013 Ford M Shelby Mustang GT500, 2013 McLaren P1 and the 2013 SRT Viper GTS. Limited Edition owners also gain VIP membership, which grants access to exclusive multiplayer events, "2x player reward acceleration" and yet another five-car pack, which includes the 1965 Shelby Cobra 427 S/C , 1987 RUF CTR Yellowbird, 1991 Mazda #55 787B, 2011 Ford F150 SVT Raptor and the 2011 Bugatti Veyron Super Sport. The Forza 5 Limited Edition pack includes window decals and $10 worth of car tokens for use in the game. Those that opt for the $60 Day One Edition of the game will receive a three-car pack, which includes the 2010 Audi TT RS Coupe, 2013 Ford Focus ST and 2011 Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera cars. Limited Edition owners also receive those three cars when Forza 5 launches this November on Xbox One.
Seen@E3: A McLaren P1 (for real this time)
Earlier this week, we posted a photograph of two McLaren supercars. We mistakenly thought they were the McLaren P1, the car that Microsoft used to promote Forza Motorsport 5 during its E3 press event. They were, in fact, McLaren MP4-12Cs. It was an egregious error, and for that we apologize. Imagine our surprise, though, when we spotted a genuine McLaren P1 at Microsoft's E3 booth today. To make up for our mistake, we took lots of pictures and a nice video. We showed it to Jordan Mallory, Joystiq's senior car enthusiast, and this time he died. Just straight-up died.%Gallery-191298%
Forza Motorsport 5 revives Autovista mode as Forza Vista, works on every vehicle
Forza 4 gave automotive enthusiasts an extra level of immersive eye-candy with its Autovista mode, which allowed players to explore hyper-realistic, ultra-detailed renders of cars in a virtual showroom while listening to the soothing sounds of Jeremy Clarkson's narration. Absent from Forza Horizon, the interactive exhibit returns in Forza Motorsport 5, albeit with a new name, new functionality and a lot more cars. "In Forza Motorsport 5, every single car can be explored in Forza Vista," Turn 10 design lead Bill Giese told us during a behind-closed-doors demonstration at E3. While a specific number was not given, Giese said Forza 5's list of available automobiles will be "massive" and contain "hundreds of cars," which is quite a bit more than the 24 vehicles supported by Forza 4's Autovista mode. Additionally, Forza Vista allows the player to find and apply paint designs from the cloud, which means you can get extremely up close and personal with your Aventador's sick new coat of matte pink before you ever take it onto the track.
All three Top Gear hosts involved in Forza Motorsport 5
Forza Motorsport 5 will, in some capacity, feature the hosts of BBC's spectacularly popular motoring show Top Gear, Turn 10 design lead Bill Giese said during a walkthrough of the game's modes during E3. Jeremy Clarkson, who lent his voice to Forza 4's Autovista mode, will be joined by co-hosts Richard Hammond and James May, though their exact role in the new game is still nebulous. "I can tell you all three hosts are involved, they're going to give us some awesome structure in how we present our career to players," Giese said. "We'll be announcing a little bit more about that this summer, but we're super excited to have all three hosts this time."
Seen@E3: A pair of McLaren MP4-12Cs
Outside of its E3 press briefing, Microsoft had two McLaren MP4-12C cars emblazoned with Forza Motorsport 5 logos. We've been made to understand that these are very impressive cars. We went to Jordan Mallory, Joystiq's resident car lover, for some expert commentary. When shown the photograph above, a single tear rolled down Mr. Mallory's cheek, at which point he looked away from the screen, staring wistfully into the distance. He has not spoken since. Update: These are MP4 12Cs, not P1s.
Forza 5 to feature a 'Drivatar' that races while you're away [Update: trailers!]
Forza Motorsport 5 will include a "Drivatar" cloud-based feature, as announced at Microsoft's E3 press briefing today. A player's Drivatar is a personal profile that races while players are away, accruing points for players that aren't actually playing the game at the time. The game was initially announced at Microsoft's Xbox One reveal event in May as a launch title for the system.%Gallery-191158%
Microsoft announces Forza Motorsport 5, coming to the Xbox One [Update: Now with trailer!]
Microsoft has announced Forza Motorsport 5, set for an exclusive release on the newly revealed Xbox One. A short trailer shown at today's Xbox reveal event featured branded cars and car parts racing around some nicely rendered real world locations. The game will be developed as usual by Turn 10 Studios, and available at launch (which Microsoft says will be later on this year) for the new console. Update: Trailer added! Update 2: Screens too! %Gallery-189057%
