Which racing series did Playground Games first pitch as a reboot before Forza Horizon?

Before Forza Horizon, Playground Games first pitched a reboot of Project Gotham Racing. The idea came from a studio whose developers had worked on several well-known racing franchises, including the original Project Gotham Racing series.

Project Gotham Racing was created by Bizarre Creations and became known for stylish street racing, licensed cars, city environments, and its Kudos system, which rewarded skillful driving. Although the series had a strong identity, it had been dormant after Project Gotham Racing 4, released for Xbox 360 in 2007.

Playground’s proposal was eventually reshaped into Forza Horizon rather than becoming a direct revival. The new project kept the appeal of open-road racing and car culture but connected it to Microsoft’s Forza Motorsport brand and Turn 10’s technology. That partnership produced a festival-based open world set in Colorado.

The connection is easy to miss because Playground Games was a new studio when Horizon was announced. Its staff, however, included veterans from Project Gotham Racing, Driver, Burnout, Colin McRae, and other racing series. Their combined experience helped define Horizon’s blend of simulation, spectacle, and exploration.