June2022
News Forza Horizon 5: Hot Wheels DLC Is Packed With 4 'New Biomes' & Over 200KM Of Track
This one looks STACKED
At the big Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase, Forza Horizon 5 developer Playground Games finally unveiled the game's much anticipated first expansion. We're returning to the world of Hot Wheels, much like Forza Horizon 3's 2nd DLC pack. However, this isn't going to be a simple rehash, as FH5: Hot Wheels is massively upping...
News Forza Horizon 5 Hot Wheels Expansion Launches This July On Xbox
Loop de loop
Finally, news on Forza Horizon 5 DLC! Well, the leaks were true, Playground Games is returning to the Hot Wheels well next month, with the launch of Forza Horizon 5: Hot Wheels on July 19th. In terms of what to expect, it looks rather similar for the Forza Horizon 3 DLC of the same name to be honest. Sure, it'll be bigger and broader...
News Forza Horizon 4 Just Got An Update, New Save System Added
Blast from the past
All eyes are on Forza Horizon 5 at present, as we eagerly await news on the game's first major expansion. However, plenty of folks are still tearing up Great Britain's many, many muddy fields in Forza Horizon 4, and well, it just got updated for the first time in almost a year. As part of Series 49, Forza Horizon 4 has received...
News Forza Horizon 5 Passes 20 Million Players Globally Since Launch
Ultimate pass
Forza Horizon 5 was one of Xbox's biggest releases last year, as Microsoft's Forza sub-series has really hit its stride. Just over half a year on since launch, the game has now seen over 20 million players blast around its open world rendition of Mexico. The figure comes from the game's 'Hall of Fame' leaderboard, which when filtered...
News Fable Development Is 'Going Fine' Despite Rumours, Says Jez Corden
Normal development ensues
Fable has been in the headlines a little bit recently, as rumours on its progress continue to come to light. After last week's developer response ensured us that the game's 'scoping' was a normal part of development, this week, Windows Central's Jez Corden has made similar assurances. Phew! On a recent episode of their...
News Playground Games Seeking Experienced Senior Gameplay Animator For The Next Fable
"You’ll be working with characters, creatures and props"
The new Fable is a game we're all very excited about here at Pure Xbox, but recently we've had little to talk about in terms of updates - aside from a Senior Producer responding to concerns about "scoping" earlier this week. Back in March, Playground Games appointed a new lead-level...
May2022
News Forza Horizon 6 Development Underway As Playground Games Searches For Staff
Are we there yet? Japan that is
Forza Horizon 5 only launched about six months ago, but 'Horizon 6' appears to already be in development. A new job post, spotted by XGP, shows developer Playground Games advertising for a level designer on its "next AAA title", as part of the Forza Horizon team. Now, we don't know about you guys, but that sure...
News Forza Horizon Briefly Returns To The Xbox Store
And it's now gone again!
There are a lot of great entries in the Forza Horizon series, but one that's not exactly readily available anymore is the original 2012 Xbox 360 game. According to multiple reports, it resurfaced on the Xbox store this weekend and was available for purchase for a brief amount of time before being pulled: This open-world...
March2022
News Forza Horizon 5 Update Overhauls Online Racing, Adds New Rides
Update: Series 6 Update now live!
Update: Forza Horizon 5's Series 6 update is now live! Here's a rundown of the new features: Original story: Developer Playground Games has detailed its upcoming Forza Horizon 5 Series 6 update, which'll contain the usual array of Festival Playlist goodies to go at. However, this particular update also brings...
Talking Point What Do You Want To See From The First Forza Horizon 5 Expansion?
Dirt bikes on the dunes
It's been a good few months since Forza Horizon 5 launched, and our minds are wandering, thinking about what's next. Developer Playground's latest racer has two expansions coming — much like the last two games — and rumour has it that we're not far off from the game's first DLC. We've been dipping into the Forza Horizon...
Random Playground Producer Pays Respects To Former Fable Studio With Tattoo Tribute
"I never forget the studio that made me"
Last month, it was discovered another former Lionhead employee Amie Loake - previously an assistant producer on the cancelled co-op game Fable Legends - had signed on with the Forza Horizon developer Playground Games to work on the new Fable title. She'll be joining the new Fable team as a senior producer,...
News Huge Forza Horizon 5 Series 5 Update Adds Sign Language Options, New Cars
Increased accessibility
It's almost time for the next series update in Forza Horizon 5! As usual, series 5 adds a bunch of new cars to the mix, including a selection available via the free Festival Playlist. However, before the playlist changes over, Playground has added some new accessibility options to the game. Starting today, March 1, American...
February2022
News Former Lionhead Employee Signs On With The New Fable Dev Playground
"I hope we can make my fellow Lions proud"
The next Fable game is one of the most mysterious projects within Xbox Game Studios right now. So far there's been a single teaser trailer, but apart from that, nothing else is really known about this anticipated release. That's what makes any news about it that much more exciting and with this in mind,...
News Forza Horizon 5 Series 4 Update Introduces The Horizon World Cup, New Showcases
And a whole lot more!
A lot of Forza Horizon 5's updates so far have focused on ironing out bugs, understandable, as the online mode was a bit borked at launch. Things are more stable now though, and alongside the latest festival playlist update, Playground Games is adding a few new features. First up is the Horizon World Cup. This event takes...
January2022
News Forza Fans Won't Give Up On Japan As The Next Horizon Location
Is this the place?
It's been a few short months since Forza Horizon 5 launched, and debate is already raging on various platforms as to where the next game should be set. Fans are bringing up all sorts of requests, including Chile, Germany and even somewhere in Africa. However, you guessed it, Japan is right up there as a top request. In a Reddit...
News Sea Of Thieves & Everwild Artist Jumps Ship To Fable Developer Playground Games
"I will be starting a new chapter"
One of the most anticipated (and perhaps secretive) Xbox releases is the next Fable game. All we really know at the moment is that it's been in development for at least four years now. Although it seems the project could be well underway, the recruitment drive continues - with Playground Games apparently kicking...
News Forza Horizon 5 Nominated For GOTY At 2022 GDC Awards
Much deserved!
Just as we thought last year's various award shows were done, GDC comes along with one more. The Game Developers Conference takes place in March, and it has its very own awards show to boot. The show contains the usual array of awards, including, of course, Game of the Year. There's some stiff competition here with the likes of...
December2021
News Forza Horizon 5 Gets A New Hotfix, Including Online Improvements
Update today
Although Forza Horizon 5 received a lot of praise on release, since its public launch the online and multiplayer component has been troubled with ongoing issues. Playground already rolled out an update and hotfix earlier this month to improve the overall state of multiplayer and online, and now it's released another update. The team...
November2021
News Forza Horizon 5 Players Are Finding The Game's Dialogue A Little Grating
Cheesy banter and Spanglish among the complaints
Forza Horizon 5 has launched to pretty much universal acclaim - it's currently sat at a whopping 92 Metacritic rating - and quite rightly so as Playground Games' latest open world odyssey is one of the very best arcade racers on the market. However, some players have taken to Reddit in order to voice...
Soapbox I Love Forza Horizon 5, But Those Bonus Boards Are Driving Me Crazy
I love to hate you
Don't get me wrong - I adore Forza Horizon 5. It's one of the best games of the year and one of the most exhilarating racers ever made. There's nothing quite like roaming the streets of Mexico, blasting out tunes from one of the excellent radio stations as the sun sets in the distance. It's relaxing, soothing and makes for some of...
News Xbox Actually Yeeted A Real Life Car From The Sky To Promote Forza Horizon 5
No joke
We've seen some crazy marketing stunts in our time, but this one just takes the biscuit. To celebrate the launch of Forza Horizon 5, the Xbox team took it upon themselves to genuinely drop a car from the sky and then take it for a spin. If you're unaware, the opening of Forza Horizon 5 has you dropping out of various planes in an assortment...
News Forza Horizon 5 Early Access Surpasses One Million Players
It's off to the races
Forza Horizon 5 may not be officially launching until this Tuesday with Xbox Game Pass, but over one million players appear to have already dived into the early access edition of the game with the Premium Edition bundle. Following an immensely positive reception with its reviews, it seems players just can't wait until November...
Guide Everything You Need To Know About Forza Horizon 5 On Xbox Game Pass
Release date, pre-install details, early access info & more!
Forza Horizon 5 is undeniably one of the biggest games to arrive on Xbox this year, with only Halo Infinite rivalling it in terms of anticipation. Releasing with Xbox Game Pass on day one, there's a lot to be excited about. Eager to get your hands on the game and want to learn more?...
Roundup Here’s What The Critics Are Saying About Forza Horizon 5
Is the series still firing on all cylinders?
Xbox’s arguably first major first-party game of the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S generation is upon us, as Forza Horizon 5 is finally making its way to our systems, with early access beginning as soon as this Friday. Five entries later, you’d be forgiven for thinking the series may be running out...
October2021
News Forza Horizon 5's First Update Is Now Live, 20GB For Xbox Series X|S
Add that to the 100GB+ base game installation
Last week, as you might recall, the Xbox and PC pre-load for Forza Horizon 5 on Game Pass (and anyone who purchased the game) got released. It was over 100GB and even larger on the past-gen platform Xbox One. Some people have now taken to social media sites like Twitter to reveal the first update is now...