Playground Games is a first-party Xbox studio that built one of the most successful racing franchises of all time. Founded in 2010 by Gavin Raeburn (formerly of Codemasters and Rare), the studio was established specifically to create an open-world spin-off of Microsoft’s Forza motorsport series.
The result was Forza Horizon, which launched in 2012 and immediately became a critical and commercial hit. Each subsequent entry raised the bar: Forza Horizon 3 moved the setting to Australia, Forza Horizon 4 introduced dynamic seasons in a gorgeous recreation of Britain, and Forza Horizon 5 took players to Mexico with what many consider the best open-world racing game ever made. The series has sold tens of millions of copies collectively.
Microsoft acquired Playground Games in 2018, making it a permanent part of Xbox Game Studios. The acquisition gave the studio the resources to expand beyond racing — Playground opened a second studio in 2017 specifically to develop a new Fable game, reviving one of Xbox’s most beloved RPG franchises.
Based in Leamington Spa, a town in the English Midlands that’s become an unexpected game development hub, Playground Games employs over 600 people across its two teams. The Forza Horizon team uses a proprietary engine called ForzaTech that delivers some of the most photorealistic visuals in gaming. The studio’s culture emphasizes technical excellence combined with accessible game design — Forza Horizon games are beloved precisely because they make driving feel incredible without requiring simulation-level skill.
