Ethan Crossfield 
Xbox is combining Playground Games and Turn 10 Studios into one development studio, bringing the teams behind Forza Horizon and Forza Motorsport under the same structure. For players, the immediate takeaway is that the merger does not announce a new Forza game, a studio name, or a change to existing release plans. It does, however, signal another major adjustment as Microsoft continues reorganizing its first-party gaming business.
What changed for the two Forza studios
Turn 10, based in Redmond, and England-based Playground Games will now operate as one cohesive team. Xbox executive Matt Booty said in an internal memo that the combined group will continue working on both the Forza and Fable franchises. Historically, Turn 10 has led Forza Motorsport, while Playground Games has developed Forza Horizon, so the merger joins two teams with different specialties within the same series family. Xbox has not confirmed whether the new organization will receive a different name. Until that information arrives, players should treat the move as a structural change rather than a formally announced franchise relaunch.
Who is affected by the restructuring
The merger is part of a wider Xbox restructuring that has also affected other first-party teams. On September 22, Xbox confirmed layoffs involving hundreds of staff members at Halo Studios and other development groups. Microsoft said the next Halo project would be handled by a new team within Activision, separate from Activision’s Call of Duty work, while a smaller Halo Studios team continues supporting current games, including Halo: Campaign Evolved. Xbox described itself as roughly three-quarters of the way through the restructuring process. Turn 10 had also experienced layoffs during Microsoft’s company-wide cuts in July 2025, which affected approximately 9,000 employees worldwide.
What players should watch next
The combined studio will have responsibilities across two active franchises. Playground Games is also developing the 2027 Fable reboot, making its future workload especially important. The source indicates that Turn 10 may assist with completing Fable, although Xbox has not formally detailed that arrangement. On the Forza side, Forza Horizon 6 launched four months before the merger and has since received five major content updates. Its British Automotive update introduced Drift Attack and four additional cars, while Playground said the PlayStation 5 version was on track for release by the end of 2026. Forza Motorsport, released in 2023 for PC and Xbox Series X/S, is in maintenance mode after its December 2025 update; future support is limited to previously released tours and cars alongside bug fixes.
What players should know
- Playground Games and Turn 10 Studios are now being combined into one development studio.
- The merged team is expected to continue supporting the Forza and Fable franchises.
- Xbox has not announced a new name for the combined organization.
- Forza Horizon 6’s PlayStation 5 version is targeting the end of 2026, according to Playground Games.
- Forza Motorsport is receiving maintenance support rather than new tracks or vehicles.
Expert View
This merger gives Xbox a simpler structure around two Forza teams, but it also creates uncertainty over priorities, staffing, and how development duties will be divided. Existing players should not expect immediate changes to their games based solely on the announcement. The more meaningful signals will be the combined studio’s name, future Forza plans, progress on Fable, and whether support for current titles remains consistent during the transition.
