What is a studio to do when their spin-off eclipses the original? That is where Turn 10 finds themselves in 2023, as it became clear that Forza Horizon – with its crystalline vistas, relentless DayGlo positivity, and resplendent open-world approach – had left more of a mark on the culture than its staid, closed-circuit mother franchise. It has been six years since Turn 10 put out a video game under the Forza Motorsport name, and now that they've finally returned to the well, you may be surprised that the studio has resisted weaving in those streamlined, casual-friendly ovations they discovered on their trips to Mexico and Australia. Forza Motorsport is a driving sim at its most icy and luxuriant; a sumptuous cathedral built to sanctify raw V8 power. The game may leave some Horizon vacationers cold but breath easy, grognards – it's clear that Turn 10 hasn't lost its fastball.

One of the best things about videogames these days is that you can play against your friends, even if they're not on the same continent as you. With the Forza racing series, Microsoft's Turn 10 Studios has taken that a step further: Gamers can race against their friends, even when their friends are offline. Forza Horizon 2, available for Xbox One on September 30, is different from last year's Forza 5, which aims to offer an exact reproduction of real-world racing. Instead of being limited to tracks, Horizon 2 drivers have access to a huge chunk of southern France and Italy, from Nice to Castelletto (complete with stunning visuals and realistic weather). Even better, unlike the original, Colorado-based Forza Horizon, drivers aren't limited to roadways.