Forza Motorsport isn't dead, Xbox is just focusing on games releasing sooner, Phil Spencer says

Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer has assured fans that the Forza Motorsport series isn't cancelled but confirmed that a new entry won't be arriving any time soon as Xbox shifts focus to games closer to release.

The details:

• In an interview with Famitsu, Spencer was asked if the Forza Motorsport series had come to an end following recent layoffs at Turn 10 Studios after it was claimed that it was “no more” by a former developer. Spencer emphasized that the series isn’t going anywhere, explaining that while the Motorsport is still active, development is proceeding at a slower pace as Xbox prioritizes games nearer completion. “As for Forza Motorsport, we sometimes have to shift our focus to games that will be released earlier,” the executive said. “And I also understand that many people reacted when the scale of Turn 10 Studios was reduced. As far as we are concerned, there are many games that we would like to support carefully, and sometimes we give the development team a little more time so that they do not continue to be in a state of tension.”
• Spencer went on to highlight that this isn’t exclusive to the popular racing franchise, explaining that projects at Xbox require varying levels of resources during development, with some games taking significantly longer than others to create. “Xbox Game Studios encompasses over 20 studios, each with multiple games in development, and each requiring different levels of support. Some projects require a short-term focus, while others demand a medium-to-long-term perspective. We genuinely want the games we publish to succeed. Xbox Game Studios has numerous titles in development, so please stay tuned for what’s coming.”
• Around half of Turn 10's staff were laid off as part of sweeping cuts made at Microsoft in July 2025, leading some fans to believe the franchise had been quietly shelved in favor of the more commercially successful Forza Horizon series. Recently, Forza Horizon 6 was announced for a 2026 release, but Microsoft did state earlier this year that Turn 10 and Playground Games would continue supporting the main Motorsport line of games.