What's the future of Forza Motorsport? Studio restructured, series creator departs

Fans of Forza Motorsport have been hit with two pieces of bad news: Longtime developer Turn 10 is losing its name after more than two decades, and Dan Greenawalt, one of the creators of the racing series, is also stepping away. As The Verge (paywalled) reports, citing an internal memo obtained by the publication, Turn 10 will be fully integrated into Playground Games and will operate under the new name Playground Games Redmond. Microsoft had already announced the merger of the two studios in September.

This marks the end of an era in Xbox history. Founded in 2001, Turn 10 developed eight installments in the Forza Motorsport series, starting with the original game in 2005. Going forward, the former Turn 10 team will support its British colleagues in developing Forza Horizon and the upcoming fantasy RPG Fable.

One of Forza Motorsport's key creators is also leaving

Alongside the studio's rebranding, fans are also saying goodbye to Dan Greenawalt. The Microsoft veteran, who has spent 27 years at the company, was not only a co-founder of Turn 10 but also one of the driving forces behind Forza Motorsport. According to The Verge, Playground Games head Trevor Williams explicitly acknowledges Greenawalt's role in creating Forza in the internal memo. Greenawalt is now retiring, although he is expected to continue advising the new studio leadership during the transition.

The future of Forza Motorsport remains uncertain

Forza Motorsport has always focused on realistic circuit racing and delivering an authentic motorsport simulation. With Forza Horizon, however, Playground Games created a much more accessible alternative, featuring a more arcade-oriented driving experience and an open world. Forza Horizon 6, released in May 2026, was well received.

Whether we'll ever see another proper Forza Motorsport game remains to be seen. With one of the simulation series' key creators departing and the entire development team being absorbed into Playground Games, Forza Motorsport (2023) could end up being the final installment in the long-running franchise. On Reddit, many fans are disappointed by the developments and hope that at least some of the Motorsport series' features will find their way into future Forza Horizon games.