Mario Kart a little silly for your taste? Worry not, serious racing fans: Microsoft has announced the next installment of its flagship racing franchise, Forza Horizon 2, and it’s coming to Xbox One and Xbox 360 this fall (via IGN). The last iteration of the series, Forza Motorsport 5, launched with the Xbox One to strong reviews. This new game will further refine that powerful engine, but in the quirkier, more arcade-style package of the Horizon series off-shoot.
The first Forza Horizon came to the Xbox 360 in 2012, utilizing the advanced racing simulation developed in the four prior instances of the main series, but moving the game’s setting to the fictional Horizon music and racing festival in Colorado. Horizon 2 brings that festival to a much more exotic southern Europe, ostensibly adding “incredible diversity” and “amazing vistas,” according to the developers.
Music from the various bands playing at the festival will still be a central feature of the game–no acts have been shared yet, but the previous game had bands like The Black Keys and Friendly Fires. Hundreds of cars will be available, headlined by the 2015 Lamborghini Huracán. The game will also feature a weather system, as well as an update of Forza Motorsport 5‘s Drivatar system of racer profiles.
Development is being led by the first Horizon team at Playground Games, but in close collaboration with the Motorsport team at Turn 10 Studios to ensure that they get the most out of the new engine. Microsoft and Playground Games will share more details next week at E3, leading up to a fall launch.
