Forza Horizon co-founder Gavin Raeburn departs Playground Games

Racing game developer veteran, Gavin Raeburn, is set to leave Playground Games, as Microsoft revealed to Windows Central earlier today (5th January).

In a brief statement, the co-founder of Playground Games is set to depart the developer after 12 years, working on Forza Horizon, 2, 3, 4, 5 and DLC expansions – the only titles the studio has created up until this point.

“Gavin Raeburn is leaving Playground Games as Studio Director. A founding member of Playground Games, we thank Gav for his leadership and contributions to the Forza franchise and wish him all the best,” read the statement.

“Co-founder Trevor Williams will transition from General Manager to Studio Head effective immediately, as the Playground Games team focuses on updates to Forza Horizon 5 and the development of Fable.”

Founded in December 2009, the British team first released Forza Horizon in 2012 – a game we recently went back to and enjoyed, even in light of the recent Forza Horizon 5, which our community voted as its favourite racing game of 2021. It currently has two studios, both in Leamington Spa. One continuing to work on Horizon 5, the other, its first non-racing game, a reboot of Microsoft’s Fable franchise.

Before his time at Playground Games, Gavin worked for an astonishing 24 years at Codemasters and is credited with a hand in racing titles such as TOCA Touring Car Championship, F1, DiRT and GRID.

There’s no word yet on his next challenge, but with such an esteemed racing game back catalogue, surely someone out there will snap him up in a jiffy.

Image source: creative commons