Showcase event dilemma: flashy but only once

The showcase event, which was a symbol of the Forza Horizon series, is about to change. The showcase, which has continued since the first production in 2012, has represented the identity of the series with cinematic spectacles such as the battle between a World War II fighter and a Ford Mustang and a race between Aston Martin and a giant bomber. Races with trains, monster trucks, and hot air balloons were content that was as fun to watch as it was to play.

But Playground Games' internal data revealed an uncomfortable truth. Level design director Tom Dillow said, "After analyzing Forza Horizon 5's telemetry data, we found that most showcase events were consumed as one-offs." After spending three fantastic minutes in the showcase they were rewarded with, players left with no reason to return.

Horizon Rush: Combination of spectacle and repetitive play

The solution the development team came up with to solve this problem is ‘Horizon Rush’. This new event features an obstacle course time attack race across Forza Horizon 6's most impressive locations.

Each course is broken down into sections, allowing players to see exactly which sections they are losing or gaining time. It supports solo play as well as cooperative play and competitive multiplayer modes.

Horizon Rush consists of three events:

• Tokyo City Dockyard: A course set against the backdrop of port facilities in an urban environment.
• Alps Ski Resort: Snowy race utilizing mountainous terrain
• Coastal Space Launch Complex: Director Dillow hinted that “a rocket may launch during the event.”

Evolving while maintaining Showcase DNA

Director Dillow has been involved in all projects, DLC, and numerous showcases at Playground for 15 years. “We know how important showcases are to Horizon,” he said, confirming that Forza Horizon 6 will also include two traditional showcases, including a showdown with a Horizon-exclusive mecha called ‘Chaser Zero.’

Horizon Rush is classified as a 'milestone event' along with the existing showcase, and is unlocked by acquiring the wristband in career mode. These events are placed between the ‘Invitational Event’ and the ‘Legend Island Event’.

“Showcase DNA means high-adrenaline events with helicopters, airplanes, slow-motion scenes, cinematic moments and heroic moments,” explains Dillow. “Pure spectacle, that is the essence of a showcase.”

Design philosophy for repeat play

The key to Horizon Rush is its replayability. The development team defined repeat play in three ways:

1. High Scores and Breaking Records: The desire to challenge yourself for better times
2. Course Mastery: Difficulty curve that is easy to play for the first time but difficult to completely master.
3. Fun: Director Dillow chose this as the most important factor, saying, “If it’s not fun, I won’t come back and play it.”

This design philosophy demonstrates the development team's will to overcome the limitations of existing showcases, which were limited to flashy one-time experiences, and to create content that players can continually return to.