It is early 2026, and the dust has finally settled on one of the most polarizing racing games ever released. If you're asking is forza motorsport good, the answer depends entirely on whether you want a "live service" that actually lives or a solid driving platform that’s basically entered a permanent state of "what you see is what you get."
Honestly? It's been a wild ride. When Turn 10 launched this "reboot" back in 2023, they promised it was built from the ground up. Fans weren't buying it. They saw the same old car models from the Xbox 360 era and a progression system that felt like a second job. But things changed. Then they changed again. And now, we are at a point where the game's active development has officially slowed to a crawl as the studio shifts its heavy hitters over to Forza Horizon 6.
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The Reality of Forza Motorsport in 2026
The game is in a "maintenance" phase. That’s a polite way of saying the developers are keeping the lights on but aren't building any new rooms in the house. You’ll still see rotating events. You’ll see "Featured Tours" being recycled so people who missed out on reward cars in 2024 or 2025 can finally grab them. But if you're looking for a massive influx of new tracks or revolutionary features, that ship has sailed.
Is it still fun? Yeah, kinda. The driving physics are actually the best the series has ever had. On a controller, it feels snappy and communicative. If you've played Gran Turismo 7, you know that clinical, precise feel. Forza is a bit more... rowdy. The cars move around more. You feel the weight transfer as you hurl a Porsche 911 through the Corkscrew at Laguna Seca. It’s got a personality that some modern sims lack.
But the baggage is real. The "CarPG" system—where you had to level up individual cars just to change the exhaust—was a disaster at launch. They patched it so you can use credits to skip the grind now, but the scars on the community remain.
What the Pros and Joes Are Saying
I’ve spent a lot of time in the forums and on-track recently. The vibe is a mix of "I love the racing" and "I'm bored of the content."
- The Multiplayer Scene: It’s still surprisingly active. People are still hunting those Safety Ratings, trying to get into S-class lobbies where the ramming is (theoretically) less frequent.
- The AI Situation: Turn 10 hyped up their machine-learning "Drivatars." In reality? They still brake-check you on straights and occasionally act like they don’t know you exist. It's better than it was, but it's not the revolution we were promised.
- Visuals and Performance: On an Xbox Series X, it looks sharp, though some people still complain about a "washed-out" look in midday sun. At night or in the rain, though? It’s stunning. Total eye candy.
Is Forza Motorsport Good for Casual Players?
If you just want to pick up a controller and go fast, it’s great. It’s on Game Pass, which is the biggest "get out of jail free" card a game can have. You don't have to drop $70 to find out if you like it. You just download it, realize you hate the menus, but love the way a Ferrari 458 handles, and keep playing.
The career mode, known as the Builders Cup, is... fine. It’s basically a series of checklists. There’s no deep narrative or "zero to hero" story like you might find in an F1 game. It’s just: pick a car, do some practice laps (which are mandatory, by the way, though you can skip them if you're willing to dive into menus), and win the trophy. Repeat until you run out of trophies.
Why You Might Hate It
Let’s be real for a second. If you are a hardcore sim racer with a $5,000 direct-drive wheel rig, you might find Forza frustrating. The wheel support has improved drastically since 2023, but it still doesn't quite match the feedback of Assetto Corsa Competizione or iRacing. It’s a "simcade." It straddles the line between realistic and accessible, and sometimes it falls into the gap between the two.
Also, the lack of new content in 2026 is a bitter pill. While Gran Turismo 7 continues to get significant updates and new cars, Forza feels like it's being put out to pasture to make room for the flashy, open-world Japan setting of the next Horizon.
The Technical State of the Game
By now, most of the "game-breaking" bugs are gone. You won't see the track disappearing under your car as often as people did in the first month.
- Loading Times: Fantastic. One of the best uses of the SSD on current consoles.
- Frame Rate: Stable 60 FPS in Performance mode. Avoid the 30 FPS visuals mode; it’s just not worth the input lag in a racer.
- Car List: Massive. Over 500 cars, and since they’ve been adding more for two years, the variety is huge.
Should You Buy It Now?
If you aren't on Game Pass, wait for a sale. Seriously. The game goes on sale frequently, and paying full price for a game that just entered maintenance mode feels wrong.
However, if you want a track-focused racer on Xbox or PC and you're tired of the "bro-culture" festival vibes of Forza Horizon, this is literally your only modern option. It’s a focused, serious (mostly) racing experience. It’s got the Nürburgring Nordschleife. It’s got rain that actually affects your grip in a meaningful way.
Actionable Advice for New Drivers
If you do jump in, don't let the "Car Points" system annoy you. Just race. The points come naturally. Also, turn off most of the assists as soon as you can. The game feels infinitely better when you’re actually managing the traction yourself rather than letting the computer do it.
Start with the "Introductory Cup," get a feel for the weight of the cars, and then head straight into the "Featured" multiplayer spec series. That’s where the real heart of the game is. Just be prepared to get punted into the grass on turn one of Monza. Some things never change, no matter how much "machine learning" you throw at them.
Final verdict for 2026: It’s a "good" game that missed its chance to be "legendary." It’s stable, it’s pretty, and the driving is top-tier. But the lack of future support means it’s a snapshot of what could have been.
Next Steps for You:
Check your Game Pass subscription to see if it’s still listed—it’s the most cost-effective way to play. If you're on PC, make sure you have at least 130GB of space cleared out; this game is a massive storage hog.