Forza Horizon
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Former Forza Horizon leaders open 'AAA' studio Maverick Games
Key leaders from the Forza Horizon team have opened what they say is a 'AAA' game studio.
'Forza' is a billion-dollar success story for Microsoft
Microsoft has revealed that its flagship racing franchise has now made over a billion dollars at retail. With last year's well received Forza Horizon 3 shifting over 2.5 million copies in a couple of months, the nine- game racing franchise has slowly cemented itself as one of the strongest brands in gaming. Given Xbox's smaller userbase this generation and the emergence of new rivals like Project Cars, Forza's dominance is a fairly impressive feat.
'More than 200 cars' available at Forza Horizon 2 launch
If you were disappointed with the relatively paltry selection of exotic rides in Forza Motorsport 5, the developers of Forza Horizon 2 have good news for you: The car culture incarnation of the franchise will boast over 200 cars when it debuts on September 30. Following a developer-led demonstration of the game's lovely European vistas and wildly expensive vehicles, I asked Ralph Fulton, creative director at developer Playground Games, if Forza Horizon 2 would follow the Forza Motorsport 5 tradition of debuting alongside a handful of cars, then trickling the rest out to fans in the form of downloadable content. Though Fulton admits that post-launch DLC vehicles are nigh-inevitable, he told me that "more than 200 cars" would be available at launch, ranging from exotic supercars to off-road vehicles to hatchbacks. [Image: Microsoft]
Forza Horizon 2 arrives this fall for Xbox One, Xbox 360 [Update]
Microsoft has announced Forza Horizon 2 for Xbox One and Xbox 360, IGN reported. The racing game follows the 2012 spin-off Forza Horizon, and is primarily being developed by the same studio, Playground Games. Forza Horizon 2 is expected to launch this fall. The next-gen racer will seemingly be set in southern Europe and bases its events around a music festival. It's the second game in the series to launch on Xbox One, the first being Turn 10's Forza 5, which launched with the console in November. Update: To clarify, the Xbox One version of Forza Horizon 2 is being developed by Playground Games, whereas the Xbox 360 version is in development by Sumo Digital, creator of Sonic and All-Stars Racing Transformed. Playground is collaborating with Turn 10 for the next-gen game, sharing some tech and staff to develop the game. [Image: Microsoft]
Forza Horizon down to $15 in Xbox Countdown to 2014 sale
The Xbox One may have a brand new entry in the series, but there's still a recent-and-decent Forza on the 360. What's more, you can grab it off Games on Demand for half-price, because today's Xbox daily deal is all about Forza Horizon. The Turn 10 Studios racer is down to $15 for one day only, as is its season pass which grants access to six DLC car packs and five exclusive cars. The Forza Horizon deal is part of Xbox's Countdown to 2014 sale, and while it's good for today and today only, there are plenty of other games staying discounted throughout the week.
Xbox 360 250 GB Holiday bundle is $239 today on Amazon
Microsoft's Xbox 360 Kinect Holiday Value Bundle is on sale for $239 as part of today's Gold Box discounts on Amazon. Those that act fast will get the redesigned Xbox 360 E console loaded with a 250 GB hard drive, a controller, a Kinect camera and three games: Kinect Adventures, Kinect Sports: Season 2 and a download code for Forza Horizon. The bundle normally costs $399, amounting to enough savings to pick up a few extra games, or better yet, groceries so you don't starve this month. Again, the deal is only on for today as long as supplies last, and is a great deal for people that haven't bought an Xbox 360 in the last few days like your humble Joystiq editor has. It's also a good deal for those that aren't picking up a PS4 or Xbox One this coming month.
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?
PSA: Black Ops 2, Dishonored, Forza Horizon DLC out today
Today is the day that the game about military battles in 2025 also becomes about Mafiosi battling zombies in the 1930s, and our world becomes incrementally stranger in the process. Black Ops 2's "Uprising" DLC is available on the Xbox Live Marketplace now for 1200 MSP.Other noteworthy, perspective-shifting DLC today brings "The Knife of Dunwall" to Dishonored. It's available now on Xbox and will be released today on PS3 and PC. And Forza Horizon's "1000 Club" expansion offers new challenges for every car.%Gallery-185837%
Forza Horizon rolls out free 1000 Club DLC tomorrow
Forza Horizon will get a free infusion of new content tomorrow. Entitled the 1000 Club, the DLC adds over 1000 challenges to complete, along with some new Achievements. The DLC will automatically suggest challenges based on whatever cars a player owns. Based on the trailer, the challenges offer more than racing, tasking players with everything from making huge jumps to just crashing into things. The 1000 Club will also include two new cars, the 1956 Ford F100 and the 1995 RUF CTR2.Microsoft tells Joystiq that the pack will feature unique challenges for every single car in the game, including the cars from the standard game and those that have been released as DLC.
Forza Horizon's Top Gear car pack DLC hits April 2
Six new cars will arrive in Tuesday's DLC pack for Forza Horizon, as selected by Top Gear Magazine and Turn 10 Studios. Players will get the opportunity to cruise in the 2011 Ford Transit SuperSportVan, the 1998 Mercedes-Benz AMG Mercedes CLK GTR, the 2012 Aston Martin Vanquish, a 2012 Bowler EXR S, a 2011 Alfa Romeo TZ3 Stradale Zagato and a 2002 BMW M3-GTR.The BMW M3-GTR is free for all Forza Horizon players, while the entire car pack can be bought for 400 MSP. Season Pass holders will be able to download the car pack for free. %Gallery-184404%
Forza Horizon 'Meguiar's Car Pack' DLC puts pedal to metal March 5
The Forza Horizon monthly rollout of shiny new DLC drives continues with Meguiar's Car Pack', which is revving up for a March 5 release. The DLC comes without cost to those with the game's season pass, while other can gain access via a 400 MSP pit stop.The six cars included are the 2013 Audi RS4 Avant, the 2012 Mercedes-Benz G65 AMG, the 2013 BMW M135i, the 2003 Ferrari Challenge Stradale, the 2004 Peugeot 206 RC, and the 1998 Nissan R390. If you're looking to take the DLC out for a test drive, the Nissan R390 is a free sample this month. Meanwhile, season pass owners get the 2010 Joss JT1 as a bonus. %Gallery-179906%
Forza Horizon 'February Jalopnik car pack' DLC hits the open road Feb. 5
Six rides are being added to Forza Horizon on Tuesday: the 2013 Subaru BRZ, '91 Ferrari 512 TR, 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser, '70 Nissan Datsun 510, and '73 Mazda RX-3. The pass is included with the game's Season Pass or separately for 400MS Points ($5). As a special bonus, the '66 Ford Country Squire will be free for all speed demons.
Forza Horizon is bringing in the new year with January Recaro Car Pack
The new year is on the Forza Horizon (ho ho ho) given that January 1, 2013 sees a bunch of new downloadable cars come to Turn 10 Studios' racer. OK, that's definitely the last time we'll use that joke this year. 2013 is an entirely different matter.The January Recaro pack features six cars, including the 2012 Cadillac Escalade ESV, 1983 GMC Vandura G-1500, 2012 Lotus Exige S, 2012 Lexus LFA Nürburgring Edition, 2005 Mercedes-Benz SLR, and the 1995 Ford Mustang Cobra R. It's priced at 400 MSP, but Season Pass holders get it for free, along with the 2009 Pagani Zonda Cinque Roadster as a bonus treat.
Forza Horizon 'Rally' DLC rolls out these five cars tomorrow
Forza Horizon's Rally DLC hits the asphalt tomorrow on Xbox 360 for 1,600 MS Points, or at no cost for those who have the Forza Horizon Season Pass.To insure you're getting your money's worth, check out the following five cars that are included in the Rally DLC pack: a blue and yellow 2005 Subaru Impreza WRX STi, the "Group B" 1982 Lancia 037 Stradale, the 1992 Ford Escort RS Cosworth, 1992 Toyota Celica GT-Four RC ST185 and the lightweight 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII MR. Season Pass holders will have access to a sixth rally car, the 2003 Ford SVT Focus.A free car isn't such a bad deal, even if it is a Ford old enough to know long division.
Forza Horizon Rally expansion drifts onto XBL next week
As Vin Diesel and Bow Wow taught us in The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, drifting is the coolest possible way to travel from Point A to Point B, regardless of situation, circumstance or the amount of neon lights underneath your car.We bring this up because Forza Horizon's latest bundle of DLC is a rally racing expansion pack, available next Tuesday, December 18, for 1,600 MS Points. The "Rally" expansion includes five new rally-purposed cars, new stages, new online multiplayer events and even co-driver announcements, so you can keep your damn eyes on the road you lunatic.Anyone who purchased Horizon's $50 Season Pass will get the Rally expansion for free, along with an exclusive 2003 Ford Focus SVT. Under any other circumstances, a 10-year-old Ford Focus isn't really what we'd call a "motivating incentive."
Forza Horizon December Car Pack has a Halo Edition Raptor, 5 more
Forza Horizon's December IGN Car Pack includes six vehicles spanning "the spectrum of automotive excitement," set to drop for 400 MS Points on December 4.The pack features a 2011 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor Halo Edition, 2008 Aston Martin DBS, 2012 Ferrari F12 Berlinetta, 2006 Ford GTX1, 2006 Hummer H1 Alpha Open Top, 1993 McLaren F1 and a 1971 AMC Javelin-AMX. The December Car Pack is part of the Forza Horizon Season Pass, which grants access to all monthly DLC packs through March 2013, including December 18's Rally Expansion Pack. The Season Pass runs 4,000 MS Points through XBLM.
Forza Horizon crashes to $14.99 on Microsoft Store [update: other offers too!]
Time to be thankful for the Microsoft Store, which is now offering Forza Horizon for a measly $14.99. Playground Games and Turn 10 Studios' racer released just under a month ago, so 75 percent off its regular price is brimming with Black Friday goodness.Jordan got revved up for Forza Horizon in his review, speeding all the way to four out of five stars. He said that, while there are a lot of "little, annoying things" about it, Forza Horizon is "a massive toy chest full of hyper-accurate hot wheels."Update: As commenter JoshHandrich notes, Microsoft Store has a few other handsome Black Friday offers, the lot neatly collected here. Standouts include Dance Central 3 ($14.99), Borderlands 2 ($24.99), NFS: Most Wanted ($24.99), and Dishonored ($24.99).
Forza Horizon 'Bondurant Car Pack' DLC coming Nov. 6
Though we suspect you'll be busy doing donuts in Master Chief's Warthog on November 6, the date also marks the release of the "Bondurant Car Pack" for Microsoft's other first-party fall release, Forza Horizon.Priced at 400 Microsoft Points on the Xbox Live Marketplace, the November DLC includes a six-pack of new vehicles to augment the moments our review called "incredibly beautiful." But who needs to stop and smell the roses when you can inhale the sweet fumes of a 1965 Shelby Cobra or that 2012 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon? (Okay, we probably should have used the new Lamborghini Gallardo as our second example.)Full list and details on the new rides can be seen after the break.
Forza Horizon 'SmartGlass Experience' app now available on Windows 8
If you've ever been playing Forza Horizon and thought "Man, I wish I could look at a tablet to see the map instead of having to hit the pause button like some kind of cave man," Microsoft has solution for your oddly specific wish.Available now on Windows 8 and other platforms "soon," the Forza Horizon "SmartGlass Experience" moves Horizon's map from the game's pause menu to the screen of a Windows 8 tablet. There, the map continues to perform all of the same duties as it does in-game, allowing the player to set GPS destinations, get information on events, etc.Now, however, instead of having to pause the game to look at the map, all the player has to do is put down the controller and pick up a second device to perform the same functions. Whether they pause the game first, or go careening into the side of a mountain, is entirely up to them.%Gallery-170127%
Xbox SmartGlass launches for Windows 8 tablets October 26
Microsoft confirmed today SmartGlass will launch alongside Windows 8 tablets on October 26, with Dance Central 3 and Forza Horizon among the first games to support it. The Xbox 360 app, which turns devices into secondary screens for the console, will be available for Windows 8 phones at launch on October 29. SmartGlass is expected to arrive on iOS and Android in 2013.SmartGlass is implemented in the latest Xbox dashboard update, which Microsoft tells us it's rolled out to 3 million users so far. Another wave will receive the dashboard update today, so more users should have access to SmartGlass when the companion app becomes available for Windows 8 tablets on Friday.
