Forza

For other uses, see Forza (disambiguation).

Forza
Logo since 2020
Genre(s)Racing
Developer(s)
Publisher(s)Xbox Game Studios
Creator(s)Dan Greenawalt
Platform(s)
First releaseForza Motorsport
May 3, 2005
Latest releaseForza Motorsport
October 10, 2023

Forza (/ˈfɔːrtsə/ FORT-sə, Italian: [ˈfɔrtsa]; Italian for "force"[1] and "strength") is a racing video game series for Xbox consoles and Microsoft Windows published by Xbox Game Studios.[2][3][4]

The franchise is primarily divided into two ongoing titles. The original Forza Motorsport series developed by American developer Turn 10 Studios focuses on primarily simulation racing around a variety of both real and fictional tracks, and seeks to emulate the performance and handling characteristics of many real-life production, modified, and racing cars.[5][6][2] The Forza Horizon series developed by British developer Playground Games features more arcade-style racing while maintaining a toned down version of Motorsport's simulation physics. Horizon revolves around a music festival called the "Horizon Festival" and features open world environments set in fictional representations of real-world areas in which players may freely roam and participate in racing events.[4][7][8]

Apart from Motorsport and Horizon, Forza has also seen two mobile and computer free-to-play spin-offs; Forza Street (2019–2022), a drag racing-style game set in Miami, and Forza Customs (2023), a tile-matching video game based on car customization. Both spin-offs were initially released as independent games before being rebranded as Forza titles.[9][10]

The franchise has sold 16 million copies as of December 2016 and has garnered critical acclaim.[11]

  1. ^ Ryan, Leon (July 2007). "Pole Position". GameAxis Unwired. No. 46. Singapore: HardwareZone. p. 45. ISSN 0219-872X. Retrieved February 10, 2022. You might be forgiven for finding this Italian word (meaning force) to be entirely alien. This is probably because the original Forza Motorsport was released back on the chunky, brick controllers, black Xbox – meaning that you might have seen the title on the shelf very briefly before the console went the way of the dodo.
  2. ^ a b "Forza Motorsport Will "Reset The High Bar" For Racing Sims, Head of Xbox Game Studios Says". GameSpot. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
  3. ^ Castellaw, Christopher (October 15, 2023). "Forza Motorsport Shows Why There's Room for Two AAA Forza Titles on Game Pass". Game Rant. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Seagrave, Richard (February 28, 2023). "The Best Arcade Racing Games on Xbox". GameSpew. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
  5. ^ "Forza Motorsport review: a vast simulation toolkit". Top Gear. October 4, 2023. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
  6. ^ Casey, Henry (September 11, 2023). "Forza Motorsport is a perfect racing sim for beginners — here are our early thoughts". CNN Underscored. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
  7. ^ Misch, Tom (October 23, 2023). "Forza Horizon 5: The Unrivaled Arcade Racing Game". Game Is Hard. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
  8. ^ Sawyer, Logan (January 17, 2021). "The Best Arcade-Style Racing Games". Game Rant. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference ta-forza-st was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference RacingGames.gg Forza Customs was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ "The Forza Franchise Has Exceeded $1 Billion in Retail Sales". Xbox.com. Retrieved July 1, 2023.