Forza Horizon 5
News, coverage and analysis tracking Forza Horizon 5 across the outlets.
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"The concept of [Xbox] Game Pass was good" despite its eventual faceplant now contributing to mass job losses, reckons Forza Horizon 5 director
Mike Brown, former creative director for Forza Horizon 5, believes the concept of Xbox Game Pass was fundamentally good, despite its current struggles leading to significant layoffs within Microsoft's gaming division. He suggests that while the service was a well-intentioned, player-focused idea, it failed to gain enough subscribers at the necessary price point to be financially viable. Brown also defended Phil Spencer and Sarah Bond, acknowledging their roles in the Game Pass push while noting the harsh criticism they face on social media.
The Biggest Critics Of Xbox Game Pass May Be Inside Xbox
Internal criticism within Xbox suggests that Xbox Game Pass has devalued games and negatively impacted the industry, with some leaders viewing it as a detriment. Despite its initial promise, the subscription service has faced challenges including price increases and shifting tiers, with even its own leaders questioning its success and impact on major franchises like Call of Duty.
Is Game Pass Still the Right Strategy for Xbox?
This article analyzes the current state and future strategy of Xbox Game Pass, questioning its sustainability and impact on game value. Despite initial excitement and acquisitions to bolster its library, internal sentiment appears negative, with reports of studios detesting the service and subscriber growth falling short of projections. While Game Pass remains a key, albeit paradoxical, component of Xbox's offerings, its future is uncertain amidst internal challenges and a need for renewed growth.
Game Pass Was A Good Idea But It Didn’t Work, Forza Horizon 5 Creative Director Says
Forza Horizon 5 creative director Mike Brown stated that Xbox Game Pass, while a good idea, failed to attract enough subscribers to be a viable business model, contributing to current struggles at Xbox. He expressed sadness over potential studio closures and job losses resulting from the service not meeting expectations, despite significant investment from Microsoft. Brown believes changes are coming to Game Pass, such as delaying the inclusion of new major titles to maximize initial sales.
"There has to be a reason for people to buy an Xbox" – Senior leadership reinforces commitment to console exclusivity
Xbox leadership is reinforcing its commitment to console exclusivity, stating that exclusive games are necessary to provide players with a reason to purchase an Xbox. This decision follows a period where some Xbox titles were released on PlayStation and Nintendo Switch. Upcoming games like Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution will be platform exclusives, while others like Forza Horizon 6 and Fable will remain multiplatform.
Xbox Wants a “Reliable Pipeline” of Exclusives, But Fans Shouldn’t “Overly Fixate” on Single-Player
Xbox's chief strategy officer Matthew Ball stated that the company needs a reliable pipeline of exclusive games to drive platform growth, even if some titles like Fable and Clockwork Revolution will also release on PlayStation 5. While large live-service games will remain multiplatform, Matt Booty indicated that single-player games are not strictly bound to exclusivity. Gears of War: E-Day is confirmed for Xbox Series X/S and PC, with Fable and Clockwork Revolution also slated for multiplatform releases.
Weekend Console Download Deals for July 17: PlayStation Summer Sale & Xbox Ultimate Game Sale
This weekend offers significant discounts on PlayStation and Xbox digital libraries, with sales like the PlayStation Summer Sale and Xbox Ultimate Game Sale. Notable deals include discounts on Elden Ring Nightreign, Hollow Knight: Silksong, and various first-party and third-party titles across both platforms. Nintendo also has a sale on the Mortal Kombat Legacy Kollection.
Forza Horizon 6 Festival Playlist Challenges Guide – Series 3 Summer
This guide details the Series 3 Summer Festival Playlist challenges for Forza Horizon 6, focusing on "Italian Exotics." It provides tips, recommended cars, and tune setups for various events including Photo Challenges, Treasure Hunts, and Seasonal Championships, running from July 16th to July 23rd.
This PC Gamer Is Making His Own Physical Steam Games, One Expensive Cartridge At A Time
A PC gamer has created custom physical "cartridges" for their Steam games using SSDs and a custom script, allowing for a plug-and-play experience. This project revives the idea of physical media for PC games, which has largely been replaced by digital distribution. The creator has shared their code for others to use, though they note it may require adjustments for different systems.
Games Inbox: Are you playing EA Sports FC more because of the World Cup?
Readers discuss their current engagement with EA Sports FC, with some playing less due to the lack of an official World Cup license and the team's performance. Other topics include potential Grand Theft Auto 6 boycotts, Xbox's mobile gaming strategy, the future of console design, and the impact of industry layoffs on studios like id Software.
Where to find Shikisai-no-Oka in Forza Horizon 6
This guide details the location of Shikisai-no-Oka in Forza Horizon 6, a required spot for a weekly photo challenge. The area is found in the Hokubu region, north of the map, near the Flower Run Speed Trap. Players need to photograph a Ferrari in this location, with the 1969 Ferrari Dino 246 GT being the featured car for the week.
Where to find the Nangan region Treasure Hunt in Forza Horizon 6
This guide details how to find the Nangan region Treasure Hunt in Forza Horizon 6 Series 3. Players need to travel to the Irokawa Space Center on the southern coast of Nangan, locate the warehouses and silos near the rocket launch pad, and crash into the Treasure Hunt chest to complete the challenge and earn rewards.
Should you work on your own games as an external development studio?
This article explores whether external development studios should also work on their own original games alongside client projects. While some studios like Redcatpig and Lab42 see internal projects as crucial for team motivation, skill development, and creative outlets, others like Code Wizards and Airship prioritize their service-based business model to avoid resource drain and client competition. The consensus suggests that while internal projects can offer significant benefits, careful management and clear focus are essential to balance them with external work.
What lessons have developers learned from external development?
External development studios emphasize the critical importance of trust and clear communication with clients, often valuing these over raw talent. Key lessons learned include aligning visions, being adaptable to client workflows, adding value beyond basic tasks, specializing in core competencies, and continuously updating technology and processes. Careful scaling and scope discipline are also vital for long-term success in the external development sector.
New Free Cars, Leaderboard Wipes Coming to Forza Horizon 6
Playground Games is introducing new Italian exotic cars to Forza Horizon 6 and will be resetting exploited leaderboards. This update aims to ensure fair competition and add fresh content for players.
Palworld 1.0 Has Ensnared Millions – Here’s Why
Palworld's 1.0 release has seen a significant surge in players, reaching over 855,000 concurrent users on Steam shortly after launching out of early access. This success is attributed to its blend of survival crafting, open-world exploration, and a unique creature-collecting formula that differentiates it from competitors like Pokemon. The substantial content added in the 1.0 update, including new regions, Pals, and mechanics, has revitalized interest and drawn players back to the game.
Aream & Co: Gaming M&A hits $2.3bn in Q2, highest level since 2022
Gaming mergers and acquisitions reached $2.3 billion in Q2 2026, marking the highest level since 2022, according to Aream & Co. Mid-market acquisitions, particularly in PC and mobile gaming, drove this growth. Despite a decline in mobile installs and spending, PC gaming saw a 13% increase, and Nintendo reported significant revenue gains from its Switch 2 hardware and software.
Forza Horizon 6 Brings Italian Exotics, Leaderboard Fixes, and More With New Update
Playground Games has released a new update for Forza Horizon 6, adding four new Italian cars for Premium Edition owners and three more vehicles next month, including Lamborghinis and a De Tomaso Pantera GT5. The update also addresses leaderboard exploits, which will result in the wiping of existing leaderboard progress to ensure fair play.
Data analysis suggests that Steam has made $11B in the first half of this year already
Data analysis from Alinea Analytics suggests Valve's Steam platform has generated $11.1 billion in revenue in the first half of the year, a 14.5% increase compared to the same period last year. This growth is attributed to a surge in players in China, successful co-op releases, publishers returning to Steam, and increased sales of both new and back catalogue games. However, the analysis also warns that this growth may exacerbate discoverability issues for smaller studios and new intellectual property.
Alinea: Steam revenue reaches $11.1bn, marking highest half-year on record
Steam generated $11.1 billion in the first half of the year, a 14.5% increase year-over-year, marking a new record. This growth was primarily driven by back-catalogue sales, with publishers utilizing discounts and bundles, alongside increased player activity in Asia and higher prices for new releases. Games like Resident Evil Requiem, Forza Horizon 6, and Crimson Desert were among the top earners.
