After six years without the Xbox track racer, Forza Motorsport (2023) saw the return of the iconic series, and it’s the best it’s ever been. Well, at least in terms of its driving mechanics. Even before launch, however, many were concerned about the Car Progression feature which gated upgrades behind a linear system. In a new update expected to arrive in March 2024, Forza Motorsport progression is seeing an almost complete overhaul, removing roadblocks and letting you buy upgrades with ease.
First up, say goodbye to locked parts in Forza Motorsport at long last. Developer Turn 10 Studios has confirmed that “all car parts can be accessed at Car Level 1 for every car”. As soon as you add a car to your garage, you can unlock and install upgrades in any order. “Whether it’s engine swaps, race tires, aspiration changes, body kits or any other part available for your vehicle, you will have the freedom to build cars your way” in one of the best racing games on Xbox.
Next, Turn 10 is making it possible to use in-game Credits to acquire Car Points, in addition to the current system of simply leveling up the car. “This means you can begin to immediately install upgrades to your car if you have sufficient Credits”, the blog explains. Currently, this system will use a 4,500 Credits to 500 Car Points ratio, which is expected to “provide a healthy balance”.
“These updates will give players freedom to equip the parts they want to install to their car regardless of Car Level, while retaining aspects of the system for those who enjoy it”, the developer explains. This will put an end to the rather linear progression players are used to, which involves starting with small tweaks before generally finishing with powerful engine upgrades. In many ways, this made every car feel very similar, at least in terms of how you improved it between races.
Forza Motorsport continues to be one of the best Xbox games and it’s only been getting better since its launch, with new cars, tracks, and system updates. With one of its biggest pain points now being addressed, it’s only going to get better too. If you took a break since launch, perhaps it’s finally time to hop back into the driver’s seat – unless the allure of new Xbox games has taken over, of course. With rumors of three massive Xbox exclusives heading to PS5, the future of Forza could have some interesting twists and turns ahead.