Why Do Old Forza Games Get Delisted? Lost to the Sands of Time
As a passionate Forza fan who has grown up playing every Motorsport and Horizon game since the originals on the Xbox 360, I was crushed when I realized Forza Horizon 2 was suddenly gone from the Microsoft Store.
Why do acclaimed Forza games seem to vanish after a few years, no longer available to purchase? What forces the hands of Xbox to remove some of their most beloved racing titles?
After dug deep into the issue as a keen industry watcher, the unfortunate reality is that licensing issues cause older Forza games to get delisted despite strong fan sentiment pleading for these classics to remain accessible.
It‘s a complex web of licensing agreements that makes re-releasing legacy Forza content almost impossible once key deals with automakers expire. This article will comprehensively break down exactly why landmark titles in the series inevitably get delisted and lost to time.
The Role of Expiring Licenses
Forza features over 500 meticulously modeled real-world vehicles from 100 legendary automotive brands. Plus globally recognized tracks like Laguna Seca and Yas Marina.
- Acquiring licenses to digitize these cars and locations requires extensive partnerships and significant investment.
- Typical licensing agreements last 3-4 years on average based on industry data.
- Once these licenses expire, Forza loses the rights to sell these games featuring licensed IP.
| Game | Year Released | Year Delisted | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forza Horizon 1 | 2012 | 2020 | 8 years |
| Forza Horizon 2 | 2014 | 2022 | 8 years |
| Forza Horizon 3 | 2016 | 2020 | 4 years |
| Forza Motorsport 6 | 2015 | 2019 | 4 years |
As evidenced in the table above, licenses lasting around 3-4 years correspond almost perfectly to when games get delisted.
This directly forces Microsoft to pull digital sales once the underlying rights to key assets disappear. Of course Xbox could renew expensive contracts. But diminishing returns on aging titles make this impractical.
Owners Can Still Download – For Now
If you already own a delisted Forza game, you‘re fortunately still able to download and play it as before:
- My copy of Horizon 2 remains safely in my games library
- But I worry someday server support for these legacy games will also fade
- Some Xbox 360 Forza titles are already nearly impossible to download
However, the delisting cripples discovery. New players can no longer easily buy these games. And physical disc availability slowly dwindles to nothing.
Several iconic entries in the series are now essentially lost to time with no accessible path for new fans to experience the history.
Workarounds Exist – But Limited Success
Dedicated fans have found some workarounds to purchase delisted Xbox 360 games:
- Navigate to Xbox 360 store listings to trigger downloads
- I used this to buy Daytona USA despite delisting
- But this only works partially – not 100% consistent
// insert image showcasing Xbox 360 store workaround
Additionally, some delisted games have returned after renewing licenses or switching publishers:
- Outrun Online Arcade got delisted when old licenses expired
- But managed to make a return with reworked deals!
However, over 900 Xbox 360 games have gotten delisted to date. The few that return are exceptions, likely only 5-10%.
For big licensed titles like Forza, the legal web of contacts is dense. Reestablishing so many relationships post-delisting remains highly improbable.
The Inevitable March of Progress
As disheartening as it is to lose iconic gaming catalog pieces, some degree of forced progress lies at the heart of media formats.
Vinyl gave way to cassette tapes. Cassettes faded for CDs. Even dominant DVDs now surrender to streaming.
Forza faces inevitable pressure to keep innovating – perhaps exploring electric vehicles, VR modes or futuristic concepts. Continually renegotiating old licenses may hinder pioneering new ideas.
Plus renewing existing brand deals likely gives automakers stronger negotiating power to demand increased licensing fees, eating into Microsoft‘s profits.
A Somber Reality for Fans
To fans, losing treasured Forza titles feels brutal – a container ship of memories now underwater, unable to resurface.
But we must acknowledge developers also experience wistful sadness at out-of-reach games they devoted endless energy into crafting.
Ultimately the transient nature of licensing defines a somber reality around video games. One where beloved gems inevitable get delisted despite our nostalgic attachment.
As gearheads who cherish the history, the best we can do is support the latest Forza releases while preserving fading discs and memories of distinguished classics now gone for good.
