Yes, you read that correctly. Forza Motorsport 7, and its associated DLC, will be removed from digital stores and therefore Game Pass permanently on 15th September 2021. This is what Microsoft terms ‘End of Life’ status
It’s one thing switching off online services for older games – which is a common occurrence – but removing a game that’s only three and a half years old is pretty extreme. However, this has also been the case with other Forza games – you cannot purchase Forza Horizon 1-3 or Forza Motorsport 1-6 anymore either.
If you’ve never experienced these games and want context before a new release, like the upcoming Forza Horizon 5 or rebooted Forza Motorsport, the only way will be to purchase a used physical copy for an Xbox console – and even then, you wouldn’t be able to try any DLC.
If you have purchased FM7 digitally before the deadline date, you will be able to redownload it from your library. Game Pass subscribers though, will rather obviously, not be able to do that.
However, if you have Game Pass, played Motorsport 7 and then purchased DLC, you will be given a digital code for the full game so you can download it as if you had purchased it outright. This will happen on the 2nd August 2021.
The game is currently on sale for the low price of $9.99/€9.99/£7.49 via the Microsoft store for the standard edition, $14.99/£12.49/€12.49 for the Deluxe Edition and $19.99/€19.99/£17.49 for the Ultimate Edition. The Ultimate Edition includes various DLC packs such as the Hoonigan and Fate of the Furious car packs.
Strangely, the online Rivals events will continue to be supported – for now.
The move is due to licencing agreements, which sees the deals used to secure cars and tracks expire. Which is fine, it’s just that you don’t see entire racing games being removed from sale in this fashion after this short time period all too often.
I guess we’ll have to update our Game Pass compendium, then!
