Forza Horizon is a 2012 racing video game developed by Playground Games and published by Microsoft Studios for the Xbox 360 on 23 October 2012. The game is the fifth instalment of the Forza series, having originally spun-off from Turn 10 Studios-developed Forza Motorsport titles. Taking place during the fictitious Horizon Festival, a street racing event, the player's aim is to progress via winning races, while also increasing their popularity level by performing stunts and activities. Unlike previous games in the Forza series, Forza Horizon takes place in an open world that players can explore. Upon its release, Forza Horizon received critical acclaim. It has since spawned its own series, with four additional sequels to date: Forza Horizon 2 in 2014, Forza Horizon 3 in 2016, Forza Horizon 4 in 2018, and Forza Horizon 5 in 2021. The game was delisted from the Xbox 360 Marketplace on October 20, 2016, following the expiration of its car branding licenses.[2] On 23 June 2023, it was announced that the online servers for Forza Horizon along with Forza Horizon 2 would be shut down on 22 August 2023.