Phil Spencer on Forza Motorsport Status: 'Shift Focus to Games That Need to Ship Sooner' - News
by William D'Angelo , posted on 27 October 2025 / 3,461 Views
Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer in an interview with Famitsu discussed Halo and Forza Motorsport as he was asked if the two franchises had come to an end as this was done before Halo: Campaign Evolved was announced.
No! Halo Studios is planning for the future to pursue new initiatives," said Spencer (via VideoGamesChronicle). "We're focusing on Unreal Engine 5 and investing in new technologies. We’re setting up a system that allows them to take the time needed, make the investment befitting the Halo franchise, and create something great as the next new entry in the Halo series."
Spencer on Forza Motorsport did acknowledge the studio was hit with massive layoffs earlier this year, however, he did say the series is still active.
"Regarding Forza Motorsport, sometimes we need to shift focus to games that need to ship sooner," said Spencer. "We understand the reaction many had when we scaled back Turn 10 Studios.
"We have many games we want to support with care, and sometimes we give development teams more time to avoid putting them under constant strain. Our current structure, with multiple studios, allows for this flexibility.
"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."
The Forza series consists of Forza Motorsport and Forza Horizon. The next entry in the Forza series is Forza Horizon 6. It will first launch for the Xbox Series X|S, PC via Steam and Microsoft Store, and Xbox Game Pass in 2026. It will also release "post-launch" for the PlayStation 5.
A life-long and avid gamer, William D'Angelo was first introduced to VGChartz in 2007. After years of supporting the site, he was brought on in 2010 as a junior analyst, working his way up to lead analyst in 2012 and taking over the hardware estimates in 2017. He has expanded his involvement in the gaming community by producing content on his own YouTube channel and Twitch channel. You can follow the author on Bluesky.
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How is this guy not fired yet?
Because he is doing exactly what his boss is telling him to do.
Says, a guy that has never played a Forza or Halo game. So, your comment is useless. Anyway, firing someone can cause more problems than is solves. The just announced firing of Bryan Kelly at LSU would be a prime example of it. But I'm sure you are just as clueless when it comes to college football then you are when it comes to games developed and published by Microsoft.
I actually played halo 2 split screen multiplayer back in the day with my cousin lol but yes I'm no fan of the box
Microsoft is taking L left right and center with their development teams,
They can't even release a new i.p unless it's the holy Trinity halo gears Forza,
Where's fable?
Where's perfect dark? In the fcken grave!
I don't see their AA / indie games keeping them afloat
The Xbox division are running around like a bunch of headless chooks,
Only thing that's keeping them floating is Microsoft's unlimited amount of money but they're starting to hurt,
COD Sales are low
Zenimax family aint doing hot either,
These acquisition are starting to become liabilities that's why they let go of tango gameworks and so many devs that they "purchased" to expand their horizon only to gut them no pun intended.
Well, your reply pretty much confirms I was spot on with my reply. You are just a hater for no reason. If you never owned an Xbox and don't play games developed by Microsoft, then what they do or don't do with Phil Spencer should be no concern to you.
Why?
Prioritising teams to help development is fine but people aren't really asking that. Turn 10 as a studio was apparently halved and he said Forza Motorsport as game series is on hold for the foreseeable. Fans of that series aren't going to be reassured by being told "Don't worry, FH6 comes out next year and we have loads of other games you can play." when they are Forza Motorsport fans.
There isnt many Forza Motorsport fans, majority play the Forza Horizon series now, a far superior IP.
The next Xbox will play PC games, and PC has racing sims coming out of it's Ass. PlayStation already has GT. After FM underperformed it's not surprising it's on ice and there doesn't seem to be an easy place for it in the market.
So no new Motorsport at release of the Xbox Next?
Odd choice if true.
Forza Motorsport is not really active since they have not added anything new for about six months. It's good that I like Forza Horizon just as much since I'm sure FH6 will be supported just as much as FH5 did which is way longer than Forza Motorsports and most games that receive post launch updates.
To be honest idk why they or Sony have been putting up with these laughably long dev times for this long. It’s been generations since sim racers have been a huge genre and these days both T10 and Polyphony focus more on car porn than on making impactful gameplay tweaks.
I’d take a GT or Forza with 100 cars that aren’t incredibly fine detailed on 15 tracks that aren’t meticulously engineered but the game includes meaningful strides in sound and AI versus the shit they put out nowadays.
