Here we are a full two weeks from the release of Forza Horizon 2. Several things happened today which indicate that at the very least Microsoft is confident about the release of its Fall 2014 racer.
After the poor release handling of EA’s The Sims 4 and Activision’s Destiny, which to no shock released to lukewarm reviews, I am shocked by how far Microsoft has gone to make the release of Forza Horizon 2 as transparent as possible. While I know that not every game can be as prepared for launch as Forza Horizon 2 is, there have been far too many games in 2014 that have had veils cast in front of them before release, leaving unpleasant surprises for consumers. While it has resulted in high sales figures from pre-orders, especially in the case of Destiny which broke records with $500 million revenue, it’s also made consumers increasingly hesitant to buy games on day one.
Related: Forza Horizon 2’s Full Map
So, what is Forza Horizon 2 doing right? Well…
An Early Demo: You Decide if You Like It
A demo released today for Forza Horizon 2. It’s available to anyone, no matter if they’ve pre-ordered the game or not. This is something that the well-received Bravely Default similarly did earlier in the year, and many gamers appreciated that.
Being able to experience the game first-hand lets you decide if it’s a game that suites your tastes. Forza Horizon 2 is a game built for racing fans, but it’s designed in such a way that makes it appealing to a wider audience than the simulative Forza Motorsport. That said, it’s not going to be a game that everyone enjoys. After all, everyone is different. Whether or not you think it looks good, you can try it out and rely on your own judgement rather than that of the press. If you happen to enjoy the demo, you’ll have full confidence in your pre-order.
As far as how good the demo is, I’d go as far as to say it’s one of the best in gaming history. It includes a captivating introduction, a substantial portion of the map, several races, a few cars to choose from, and as a result is a good taste of what’s to come later this month. Things are looking very positive if early reactions on social media and forums is anything to go by.
Review Copies: An Early Deployment
We received our review copy today, and so did numerous other outlets. That means we get ample time to dive into this open-world racing game and see what it’s all about. That puts less pressure on us to hit the embargo date, and be as thorough as possible.
In contrast, Destiny review copies were sent out the day prior to release. Activision’s reasoning was that it’s a game that thrives on the social experience. Well, guess what? Forza Horizon 2 has tons of multiplayer features, and you could argue it’s an important part of the experience as well.
In order to ensure that pre-release reviews of Forza Horizon 2 include insight into the social side of the game, Microsoft has setup a multiplayer session calendar. So, when reviewers such as myself feel the need to interact with others, we can get our fix. Little things like this go a long way.
Live Streaming: Sure, You Can Do That
Starting next Monday, press are encouraged to share an hour of gameplay live with gamers via Twitch. Although there are a few restrictions to avoid spoilers regarding car unlocks, this is simply unprecedented. I’ve been in games media for numerous years, and usually the only time live streaming is allowed prior to release is when you’re IGN or another one of the top five or so outlets, or if the live streaming embargo is a day or less before release.
Because of this, we’ll be setting up a live stream for Monday so that you, as the interested consumer, can see us playing the game to check out what it’s like after the introduction shown in the demo. There’s no walking into your purchase blindly.
The Big One: Embargo Before Release
Forza Horizon 2‘s review embargo is Thursday, September 25th at 12:01 AM PDT. This means you’ll be able to read what many critics thought of the game nearly a full week before release. Microsoft isn’t hiding anything. You’ll see how this racer, which is one of several releasing this Fall season, has been received before it ever hits retailers.
Related: Everything You Need to Know About Forza Horizon 2
Ultimately, this isn’t about the press, it’s about the consumer. There will be nothing surprising when September 30th rolls around. If you’re at all interested in Forza Horizon 2, by then you’ll have played it and seen enough to come up with an informed opinion for yourself. This is an example of a video game release done right.
