Forza Motorsport 7 will meet its end of life cycle soon, four years after it was released in 2017 due to licensing issues for the game.
Microsoft will be removing their racing sim Forza Motorsport 7 starting September 15. This comes only 4 years after its release, with rights and licensing issues being the primary source of the removal. The sim will still be available for conditional purchase for some players.
Forza 7 owners will receive support after title sales go away
Forza 7 came out in 2017 with good reviews, many praising it for its beauty and enjoyability. The game, however, reached its end-of-life status now, four years into its lifespan. Forza devs Turn 10 Studios announced the removal on the game’s official site.
“On September 15, 2021, Forza Motorsport 7 will reach End of Life status,” said Jacob Norwood, community manager for Turn 10. “This means that the game and its DLC will no longer be available to purchase in the Microsoft Store or available with Xbox Game Pass.
“However, after September 15, players who already own Forza Motorsport 7 will still be able to download and play the game and its associated content as normal. In addition, features like multiplayer and online services will still be accessible for those who own the game.”
Potential licensing rights likely the reason for removal
Forza Motorsport 7 still has players and fans enjoying the game. The community is equally stunned from the announcement, but many understand why. While the devs did not talk about the reason for its status, many have a hint.
The potential reason comes down to licensing rights for vehicles and music in-game. Real-world car manufacturers require licensing to have their names used in video games. Many have limited sales licenses that ran only for a few years.
The same goes with in-game radio and music, especially if they come from well-known artists. With that said, players may have a way to get the game.
“For any Xbox Game Pass players who previously purchased DLC for the game, but not the game itself, we have good news,” added Norwood. “You will receive a token for the game through the Xbox Message Center so that you can continue playing Forza Motorsport 7. Token distribution will be through August 2.
“For anyone keeping an eye on our Rivals events with our esports partners, after September 15 we will continue to provide content to support our partners’ esports competitions with new Rivals events coming soon, so there’s still be plenty of racing action to be had.”
Microsoft is currently busy for the upcoming Forza Horizon 4, pushing the game for a next-gen release soon. They released new assets, including the brand new biomes in-game.
Forza Motorsport 7 is available with a 75% discount right now, which stays until September 15.
Featured image courtesy of Forza/Youtube Screenshot