Forza Horizon 4 is a racing video game that lets you explore the beautifully rendered sights of a fictionalized Great Britain. Developed by Playground Games, this 3D driving simulator game is the fourth Forza Horizon title and the eleventh installment in the Forza video game series.
As the sequel to Forza Horizon 3 and the predecessor to Forza Horizon 5, Forza Horizon 4 is well-known for being the title to introduce dynamically changing seasons to the franchise’s line-up of features. It still retains the series’ gorgeous graphics and sound design—allowing you to soak in the breathtaking scenery at your leisure.
Forza is a popular franchise of hyper-realistic car simulation games, published by Xbox Game Studios. It first started way back in 2005 and is well-loved for emulating the performance and handling characteristics of many production, modified, and racing cars in real life. The series is primarily divided into two subseries: Forza Motorsport, which is focused on professional-style track racing events; and Forza Horizon, which is focused on open-world exploration.
Keeping up with the theme of different locations, Forza Horizon 4 is set in the lush historic landscapes of Britain and features a vast open-world environment you can freely explore. The beauty of the graphics is taken up a notch with the introduction of the dynamic weather system, which also lets you enjoy the whole map in spring, summer, autumn, and winter. This doesn’t just affect the visuals—the audio effects change and your car handling responds differently depending on the weather, too.
Like other Forza titles, this game features a large collection of vehicles you can own and tune up yourself—specifically, over 450 cars and over 100 licensed manufacturers available. You can freely progress through the open-ended campaign and participate in numerous events throughout the map—whether it’s racing competitions or little stunt challenges. The other biggest change here is the game becoming a shared world or server for 72 players each. This multiplayer aspect lets you directly interact with other players and enjoy the game in its entirety together.
There are three editions available for Forza Horizon 4. The Standard Edition contains the base game and the Formula Drift Car Pack. The Deluxe Edition adds the Car Pass to what the Standard Edition offers. Meanwhile, the Ultimate Edition includes all of that, as well as VIP Membership, the Best of Bond Car Pack, and two DLC expansions. Comparing the three, Standard is great as a starter for players new to the Forza franchise. For veteran fans, however, Ultimate is the best choice.
That aside, though, this doesn’t mean that the game doesn’t have its share of failings. For one, players used to being guided by the main quests will find themselves a bit lost here. Once you start playing, everything is fair game—you can even start driving some of the fastest vehicles around after a few hours. This can turn players off from trying out other lower-class cars. The sheer amount of customization available can be daunting, too.
Forza Horizon 4 has received a new update to address the long-standing issue with the broken 'Encore?' achievement. The 'Encore?' achievement, known for being one of the game's hardest to unlock, requires players to complete multiple activities across four weeks. However, since April last year, many players have reported that the achievement stopped unlocking correctly despite meeting the requirements.
According to Forza Support, the new update now allows players to "earn 100% completion on the Festival Playlist from Series 60 onwards and unlock the 'Encore?' achievement." While this update will enable players to finally achieve 100% game completion, it will not unlock the achievement retroactively if a player has already completed a previous Festival Playlist. With the 60th Festival Playlist expected to start in about a month, players who have yet to unlock the 'Encore?' achievement should prepare to take advantage of this update.
The March 7th update for Forza Horizon 4 includes essential maintenance updates on upcoming Festival Playlist content. The patch fixes the issue preventing 100% playlist completion from Series 60 onwards but does not retroactively affect previous Series completions.
Forza Horizon 4 is scheduled to be removed from digital storefronts on December 15th, 2024. This decision comes as a result of licensing and partner agreements that necessitate the end of digital sales on platforms like the Microsoft Store and Steam.
As the availability of Forza Horizon 4 winds down, players will have one last chance to participate in the game's final in-game event. Scheduled to run from July 25th to August 22nd, this event will be the last opportunity for players to unlock certain achievements associated with the seasonal Festival Playlists. After this period, these achievements will no longer be attainable.
In a move that adds some complexity to the situation, the game's downloadable content (DLC) is being delisted immediately. For players who have accessed Forza Horizon 4 via Xbox Game Pass and have purchased some DLC, there is a silver lining. These players qualify for a token that allows them to download the full game and continue playing it after the official delisting date.
Xbox Game Pass subscribers who have purchased DLC for Forza Horizon 4 will receive game codes to keep the game, ensuring continued access despite the delisting. This effort reflects Playground Games' attempt to mitigate the impact of the delisting and maintain player engagement. The game codes will be distributed to eligible players who have an active, fully paid Xbox Game Pass subscription, and these codes must be redeemed by June 25th, 2026.
Despite the game’s removal from digital stores, Playground Games has confirmed that the servers for Forza Horizon 4 will remain operational. This means that both offline and online modes will still be available to players even after the game is delisted. This approach aims to minimize disruption and provide ongoing access to the game’s features.
Forza Horizon 4 will be just over six years old when it is pulled from digital stores. Post-delisting, the game will only be accessible through existing physical copies for Xbox, which will become valuable for latecomers and preservationists. While Forza Horizon 5 serves as a worthy successor and the franchise is expected to continue as a dynamic counterpart to Forza Motorsport, the delisting of Forza Horizon 4 highlights the challenges and transient nature of digital game availability.
The delisting of Forza Horizon 4 underscores the complexities involved with licensing in video games and raises important questions about the longevity and preservation of digital titles. As the game approaches its removal date, Playground Games is making efforts to ensure a smooth transition for its player base while navigating the limitations imposed by real-life car and music licenses.
For those who will miss Forza Horizon 4 or are looking for similar gaming experiences, several alternatives can fill the gap. Forza Horizon 5 is the direct successor, offering even more expansive environments and improved graphics, set in the vibrant landscapes of Mexico. It continues the series' tradition of open-world exploration and dynamic weather systems.
Another notable alternative is Gran Turismo 7, which emphasizes realism and offers a rich single-player campaign alongside extensive multiplayer options. Need for Speed Heat provides a more arcade-like experience with a focus on street racing and car customization, set in a fictional city inspired by Miami. Additionally, The Crew 2 offers a unique twist by allowing players to switch between cars, boats, and planes, providing a diverse range of racing experiences across a massive open world.
Forza Horizon 4 has been a beloved title in the racing game genre, known for its breathtaking visuals, dynamic weather systems, and extensive vehicle customization options. As it approaches its delisting, players have one last chance to enjoy its rich offerings and participate in the final in-game events. As fans bid farewell to this iconic title, they can look forward to exploring new frontiers with other alternatives in the racing game universe.
Version
1.477.567.0
License
Paid
Platform
Windows
OS
Windows 11
Language
English
Downloads
509
Developer
Playground Games
