Forza Horizon 4’s thrilling race is nearing its final lap for availability on digital storefronts. Playground Games, the development team behind the popular racing game, has pointed out on their blog that license agreements are set to expire, leading to the game’s removal from the Microsoft Store and Steam starting 15 December 2024. Connoisseurs of the title will have until then to grab their digital copy, after which they’ll need to hunt down a physical edition to join the high-speed festivities.
Enthusiasts have limited time to engage with the numerous upcoming features of the game. By 25 July, Series 77 will take the stage, marking the last Festival Playlist for players to enjoy. This series will herald the end of an era on 22 August, post which, the Festival Playlist screen will serve as a gallery of the past rather than a bridge to new challenges. Instead, players will start directly at the festival Site screen after launching the game.
The adrenaline-fueled journey for Xbox players is not over yet. A new title, ‘Avowed’, is gearing up for release later in the year. For those zealous achievement hunters, there are still final milestones to chase, including ‘A Crate of Habit’ and ‘Stunt Puller’, before the Festival Playlist retires.
Ahead of the delisting, Playground Games has offered a silver lining: attractive sales are coming. Steam has set the stage with a sale, followed by an Xbox discount slated for 14 July. Post-delisting, players can take solace as all game features from offline to multiplayer will continue to be operational. Lastly, dedicated Xbox Game Pass fans who’ve invested in DLC content, rest assured, for continued Game Pass subscription guarantees a token for the full game in your Xbox Message Centre.
The removal of Forza Horizon 4 from online stores is a repercussion of license agreements coming to an end. This does not only affect this game, but it is also a common issue within the industry, as it concerns the rights to use real-world cars, music, and other branded content included in games. When these licenses expire and are not renewed, publishers often have to cease sales of the affected titles.
The most important questions and key challenges surrounding this topic include understanding why games are delisted, what this means for current players, and what options are available to potential buyers after the delisting occurs.
Answering the key questions:
– Games are usually delisted due to the expiration of license agreements.
– Current players will still be able to play Forza Horizon 4 and its features, including offline and multiplayer modes.
– After delisting, new players will only be able to purchase physical copies of the game.
Notable controversies may arise from frustration within the community, particularly those who wished to purchase the game digitally but missed the chance.
Discussing advantages and disadvantages:
Advantages
– Players who purchase the game before the delisting can continue to enjoy the game fully.
– The promise of sales prior to delisting can make the game more accessible to a wider audience.
– The transition to focusing on newer titles can allocate more resources toward the development and maintenance of up-and-coming games.
Disadvantages
– Potential players who discover the game post-delisting will have difficulty obtaining it digitally.
– The end of the Festival Playlist might disappoint players who looked forward to new challenges.
– The reliance on physical copies post-delisting could push prices up due to limited availability.
Lastly, for related information about the game or future titles from the developers, you may visit the official Xbox site at Xbox or the official Steam storefront at Steam.
