Latest update for Forza Motorsport was just introduced by Turn 10 Studios and sponsored by Open Division Rivals, wherein competitors create a machine that has the best performance possible under an imposed PI limit for each PI category. Exciting, right? Response? I’d say it’s nothing worth a victory lap.
Replies to the announcement tweet flooded it: hype followed by frustration, confusion, and doomposting. And honestly, for a good reason: Microsoft laid off a good chunk of the staff of Turn 10 just recently, and gamers are not feeling positive about the future of this franchise.
What Format Is Open Division Rivals?
Open Division Rivals is a bit of a flex zone for car-builders. Take any production vehicle in the game, tweak it to a PI limit assigned to its class, then compete to set the fastest lap time. Being a permanent addition means this is not some limited-time event, so if you’ve got some min-maxing to do, this is your turf.
But this launch time is the worst time possible.
Layoffs & Uncertainty: The Elephant in the Room
Many replies neglected to pay attention to the new mode and just went for the throat: “Why bother when it’s cancelled?” another user asked in a very straight manner. One more commented, “Hard to feel confident in this game at all with how MS has cut back your team quite a bit.”
Ouch.
That skepticism is justified. The recent cuts hit Turn 10 hard, and while the studio hasn’t officially announced any cancellations, the deafening silence has prompted the questioning of the matter. Some even accused the devs of purposely avoiding the question when one frustrated fan shouted, “Answer questions about Forza Motorsport series future!”
Then, there was the whole side track about the “Is this even a real-person posting?” idea. One reply speculated that maybe the Forza account is generally automated now, just tweeting press releases at some timer, all the while the real team is… well, who-knows?
Mounting the Defenses
Not everything was doom and gloom, though. Few players kept up the good fight, calling Forza a “pioneer of simulation” and urged them to “keep it up.” Another wants just “more tracks Originals PLEASE.” And there was that wholesome Mustang fan dreaming of realizing the dream of owning a Ford IRL.
But let’s be honest; the overall atmosphere? Aside from dark gloominess, sprinkled with occasional ‘meh’ from the distracted.
What’s Next for Forza Motorsport?
Turns out that undertaking is stilled somewhere in a waiting game. Despite the arrival of the new mode, biggest would be concerning if Turn 10 could even sustain the game for the long term or for that matter would want to. Shaken in their regard for the confidence, despite no official word on the next thing, players are left dead between hoping for the best or expecting the worst.
In any case, regaining the community will require much more from Turn 10 than just putting out a new Rivals mode.
In the interim? If you’re still into Forza Motorsport, meanwhile, Open Division Rivals is having the time of its life. The big question is: does the game itself have a future?
