GameSpot may receive revenue from affiliate and advertising partnerships for sharing this content and from purchases through links.

Why Forza Motorsport Doesn't Have A Number Attached To It

Xbox head honcho Phil Spencer explains the name and how they plan to support the racing game "for years to come."

12 Comments

Even though the upcoming Forza Motorsport is the eighth entry in the racing game franchise--13th if you count the Horizon series, too--the title won't have a number. That's a deliberate decision to help show what the game aims to be, according to Xbox boss Phil Spencer.

Speaking with IGN, Spencer elaborated on exactly why Forza Motorsport is switching gears with its naming. He confirmed it's because the new game will be a "service platform," though added, "I hesitate a little bit because I think there's a lot of loadedness in what that means."

Please use a html5 video capable browser to watch videos.
This video has an invalid file format.
00:00:00
Sorry, but you can't access this content!
Please enter your date of birth to view this video

By clicking 'enter', you agree to GameSpot's
Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

Now Playing: Forza Motorsport Impressions

Spencer talked about how a number in the title can give off the perception that the team, Turn 10, needs to quickly move on to the next installment in the franchise. "And it's like, no, we want this to be a place that people feel like they can invest their time, they can invest their experience, and know that this is a place that we're going to be investing in Forza Motorsport for years to come," he said.

The Xbox head honcho discussed the racing game earlier this week at Gamescom as well. Spencer stated Forza Motorsport's lack of split-screen was a creative decision, not something tied to trying to make the feature work on Xbox Series S. That's been a touchy subject lately, especially with Baldur's Gate 3 skipping split-screen on Xbox Series S so the RPG can arrive on Microsoft's systems this year.

Forza Motorsport will launch October 10 on PC and Xbox Series X|S. Don't forget that the racing game will require an internet connection for any progression.

Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com

Join the conversation
There are 12 comments about this story
12 Comments  RefreshSorted By 
GameSpot has a zero tolerance policy when it comes to toxic conduct in comments. Any abusive, racist, sexist, threatening, bullying, vulgar, and otherwise objectionable behavior will result in moderation and/or account termination. Please keep your discussion civil.

Avatar image for Tiwill44
Tiwill44

3927

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 386

User Lists: 7

Edited By Tiwill44

Sorry to rag on MS again, but this reasoning doesn't make any sense to me. There hasn't been a new Forza Motorsport game in 6 years, meaning the precedent of releasing a new game every 1-2 years has already been shattered and forgotten about. There are people who were toddlers when Forza Motorsport 7 came out who will be old enough to play the new game. Think about that for a moment. Just not too long, or you might get existential dread. Anyway.

You can have a numbered title and still support the game for years to come. It makes little difference, because if the game is any good and you actually do support it in a way that people enjoy, word of mouth will spread fast. Final Fantasy 14 comes to mind, people love that MMO. Or Payday 2, that game has 10 years of content updates under its belt and a large community as well.

See, when people are actually having fun, in the present, with your video game, they're not too concerned about when the next game might come out.

2 • 
Avatar image for illegal_peanut
illegal_peanut

4226

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Also, what's with companies and their fetish with removing the number on a title entry?

It's never just "1, 2, 3, 4, etc."

It always has to go "1, 2, 3, revenge, Revolutions, Syndicate, Black something, 7, infinite, revelations, rebirth, 0, 4, [Some date number], [Just the name of the game even though it's the 15th entry], Online, Alpha, Omega, ZERO, Genesis, Super, Ultra, Mega, Hyper, Unleashed, Unchained, [Some pointless number that means little to the series], [Remake of an older title with the exact same name], Legion, Odyssey, Dark something, Apocoplyse, [Roman Numerals even though they didn't use them before], Final (Even though their going to make more), Legacy, X, Y, Z, [A shorten version of the title to one word], [The name of the location the game is set in], Ghost, and Galaxy."

I get it when there are different games in the series. But they'll do this to mainline entries that don't vary that much at all.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for noodles227
noodles227

337

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 5

Edited By noodles227

@illegal_peanut: I think because for gamers that aren't on forums and comment sections like we are, they may feel like they are missing out on something or probably more likely that it's some old tired franchise and they want the new thing. Because if they see an 8 who says there isn't a forza 10 out already?

I know it sounds goofy to us but to some random dad that sees a car on a game cover in wal mart thats thinking about using his kids xbox to play it maybe it affects them differently, I dunno. Then for the rest of us we already know what the deal is and will buy it regardless.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for illegal_peanut
illegal_peanut

4226

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By illegal_peanut

Yeah, because you can't just space out the release of the game, or some crap like that. So that it comes out every 4 to 5 years.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for pillarrocks
pillarrocks

4200

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 46

User Lists: 0

Always wondered it wasn't called Forza Motorsport 8. Probably get it during a sale next year.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Baconstrip78
Baconstrip78

1894

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

And another game moves to game-as-a-service.

6 • 
Avatar image for MigGui
MigGui

2064

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 7

User Lists: 0

Edited By MigGui

@Baconstrip78: like 5-10 years ago, right?

Upvote • 
Avatar image for heqteur
Heqteur

1743

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

Edited By Heqteur

@Baconstrip78: Forza has been a service forever though

2 • 
Avatar image for MigGui
MigGui

2064

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 7

User Lists: 0

That worked so well for Halo...

6 • 
Avatar image for dushness
Dushness

1390

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 5

they should have turned the 8 sideways.

4 • 
Avatar image for itsnota2mer
ItsNotA2Mer

1106

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 5

@dushness: FM Continuum?

Upvote • 
Avatar image for TheSacredRing
TheSacredRing

357

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 9

User Lists: 0

@dushness: I see what you did there. Well done.

Upvote •