Forza Horizon 4 is the latest installment in Microsoft‘s popular open-world racing game series exclusive to Xbox and Windows platforms. It builds on the success of earlier Forza Horizon titles by introducing a shared open world set in beautiful historic Britain.
Players can tear through quaint villages, lush forests, craggy mountain passes and more in over 450 of the world‘s greatest cars. The dynamic seasons change every week, bringing new events, collectibles and challenges. It‘s an impressive racing experience only available on Xbox and PC.
But is Forza Horizon 4 actually free to play on PC? Let‘s take a closer look at what‘s offered and the various options for accessing this acclaimed racing game.
What is Forza Horizon 4?
Forza Horizon 4 is the fourth game in the Forza Horizon sub-series from acclaimed developer Playground Games and published by Xbox Game Studios. It was released in September 2018 for Xbox One and Windows 10.
The Horizon series takes the realistic driving mechanics and vast vehicle rosters of the main Forza Motorsport games and combines them with open world environments. Players are free to explore and find events spread across the open map.
Forza Horizon 4 is set in a fictional representation of Britain featuring over 450 licensed cars to collect and drive. The game dynamically simulates all four seasons with the environment evolving over time. Each season brings new gameplay content and challenges.
The shared world allows seamless cross-play between Xbox and PC. Players on both platforms exist in the same online session for seamless multiplayer interaction. The game offers solo, co-op and competitive online modes for up to 72 players.
Is Forza Horizon 4 Free?
Forza Horizon 4 is not free on either Xbox or PC. It is a premium, full-priced release with an initial asking price of $59.99 USD when it first launched.
There are occasional sales where it is discounted, but Forza Horizon 4 is not available as a free download directly from the Microsoft Store or Steam on PC.
However, there are a couple ways players may be able to access the game at no additional cost which we‘ll cover. But outright, Forza Horizon 4 is not a free game.
Forza Horizon 4 Purchase Options
For those looking to play Forza Horizon 4, here are the main ways to purchase and access the game:
Microsoft Store – Forza Horizon 4 is available digitally from the Microsoft Store on Windows and Xbox. It is currently priced at $59.99 USD.
Steam – The game is also sold on Steam for Windows PC at the same $59.99 USD standard pricing.
Xbox Game Pass – Subscribers to the Xbox Game Pass service can download and play Forza Horizon 4 at no added cost. This applies to both the console and PC versions.
Xbox Game Pass starts at $9.99 USD monthly granting unlimited access to a catalog of games. Forza Horizon 4 is included in this catalog, so subscribers can play for "free" as part of their normal subscription.
Limited Time Free Trial
When Forza Horizon 4 originally launched, Microsoft offered a time-limited free demo on Windows 10. This allowed PC gamers to try the game for free during its launch window.
However, this demo promotion was only available from September 2018 – January 2019. The free trial period has long expired and is no longer available for new users.
Giveaways and Contests
There are occasionally contests, giveaways or promotions that provide codes to download Forza Horizon 4 for free. For example, Microsoft may provide copies to press for reviews or run social media contests.
However, these are not reliable methods to regularly get free access. The odds of winning a random giveaway are extremely low. And these types of promotions are infrequent, making it unrealistic to count on as a way to play Forza Horizon 4 for free.
Game Sharing with Xbox Play Anywhere
Through Xbox Play Anywhere, players who purchase Forza Horizon 4 digitally can install and play on both Xbox One and Windows 10 at no added cost. You buy once, own on both platforms.
Sharing the game with a friend or family member who also uses your "Home Xbox" makes it possible to play together with just one digital purchase. But this still requires someone to pay upfront to purchase the full game.
Buying Used Physical Copies
Forza Horizon 4 is also available as a physical disc copy for Xbox One at many retailers. Like with used games, purchasing a pre-owned copy could provide access for a lower cost.
However, this only applies when buying an Xbox One disc copy. The Windows 10 version is only sold digitally, so used copies are not an option. Physical discs will not work with the PC version.
Minimum PC Requirements
Forza Horizon 4 poses fairly demanding hardware requirements, especially at higher graphics settings. Before purchasing, PC gamers will want to ensure their desktop or laptop meets or exceeds the following minimum specs:
Minimum System Requirements:
- OS: Windows 10 version 15063.0 or higher
- Processor: Intel i3-4170 @ 3.7Ghz OR Intel i5 750 @ 2.67Ghz
- Memory: 8 GB RAM
- Graphics: NVidia 650TI OR NVidia GT 740 OR AMD R7 250x
- DirectX: 12
- Storage: 80 GB available space
Recommended System Requirements:
- OS: Windows 10 version 15063.0 or higher
- Processor: Intel i7-3820 @ 3.6Ghz
- Memory: 12 GB RAM
- Graphics: NVidia GTX 970 OR NVidia GTX 1060 3GB OR AMD R9 290x OR AMD RX 470
- DirectX: 12
- Storage: 100 GB available space
Having hardware that meets or exceeds the recommended specs ensures smooth 60fps gameplay at 1080p and high graphics settings. The minimum specs can potentially run the game at lower resolutions and graphics configs.
Optimizing Performance on Lower End PCs
Forza Horizon 4 is demanding, but there are options to optimize performance on PCs closer to the minimum requirements:
- Run at a lower resolution like 1600 x 900 instead of full HD 1080p
- Enable Windows 10 Game Mode for slight performance gains
- Close all background apps and processes before playing
- Turn graphics settings down to low or medium for increased FPS
- Disable anti-aliasing which is taxing on lower graphics cards
- Limit the framerate to 30fps for smoother gameplay on weaker PCs
Tweaking the in-game settings and Windows for performance can help make Forza Horizon 4 playable on older or low-end PCs. But hitting at least the minimum specs is still strongly advised.
Install Size Requirements
Between the base game and additional content updates, Forza Horizon 4 takes up a lot of drive space that users need to consider:
- Disk Space: Minimum 80 GB required
- Download Size: Around 73GB download on PC via Microsoft Store
- Steam Download: 103GB download size through Steam
It‘s among the heftier game installs out there, taking over at least 80GB or more of hard drive space. Gamers without a lot of spare drive capacity may need to clear room before installing.
Using a fast solid state drive helps improve loading times. But regardless of storage device, having at least 100GB free is ideal for Forza Horizon 4.
Download and Install Process
Once purchased, here are the steps to download and install Forza Horizon 4 on PC:
Locate the Forza Horizon 4 purchase or Xbox Game Pass subscription in the Microsoft Store app. Select Install to begin the download.
The Microsoft Store will automatically download the entirety of the game which can take several hours depending on internet speeds. Faster connections will speed up the process.
After completing the 70+GB download, the Microsoft Store will automatically proceed with installing Forza Horizon 4.
Launch Forza Horizon 4 through the Microsoft Store once finished. The game also adds the Forza Horizon 4 shortcut to the Start Menu for easy access.
The download and install process is straightforward but expect the initial setup to take some time given the large file size. Once that completes, the game can launch and play whenever desired.
Forza Horizon 4 vs. Forza Horizon 5 Comparison
Forza Horizon 5 released in November 2021 as the follow-up to Forza Horizon 4. How does the latest entry compare for those deciding which to play?
Main Differences
- Setting – Forza Horizon 5 takes place in Mexico instead of Britain
- Map Size – Horizon 5‘s map is 50% larger overall
- Seasons – More extreme weather effects during seasons in Horizon 5
- Cars & Customization – Over 500 cars now and more tuning options
- Systems – Horizon 5 has better texture quality, ray tracing, quick resume etc. thanks to Xbox Series X/S
Key Similarities
- Both have a huge open world and changing seasons
- Massive car rosters with tons of customization
- Dynamic weather and day/night cycle
- Horizon Life online world with co-op and PvP modes
- Character creator and houses to purchase
- Diverse terrain ranging from jungles to deserts to farmland
Forza Horizon 5 builds on its predecessor with a bigger map, seasons with more hazards, enhanced graphics if playing on newer hardware, and more. But Forza Horizon 4 still holds up incredibly well as a contemporary open-world racing package.
Other Free Racing Games for PC
Here are some of the best fully free PC racing games that serve as potential alternatives to the paid Forza Horizon 4:
- Asphalt 9: Legends – Arcade-style mobile racer with over 50 cars and online multiplayer
- Need for Speed Heat Studio – Free customization tool for Need for Speed Heat cars and graphics
- Moto Racer 4 – Motorcycle racing driving and stunts across the globe
- CRSED: F.O.A.D. – New fantasy battle royale racing game with vehicles and character classes
While not as robust as Forza Horizon 4, these free-to-play racers can still provide hours of fun. They serve as good options to hold players over until they purchase the full Forza experience.
Game Bundles and Discounts
Forza Horizon 4 frequently goes on sale for 50% off or more, dropping the price under $30. Major sales include:
- Microsoft Store holiday sales
- Xbox Live Gold specials
- Steam seasonal sales
- Summer sale events
Retail disc copies for Xbox One also see discounts of 40% or more at various retailers. So shop around for the best deal.
Bundled offers can also bring savings compared to purchasing individually:
- Xbox Game Pass Ultimate – Includes Forza Horizon 4 for one monthly fee
- Xbox Game Pass Friends & Family – Share access to Game Pass library and perks
- Xbox Game Pass PC 3-month codes – Play on PC for a quarterly fee
For the best value, grab Forza Horizon 4 on sale or as part of a discounted game bundle.
Key Takeaways: Is Forza Horizon 4 Free?
While Forza Horizon 4 is not free, hopefully this breakdown gives you a better understanding of your options:
- Forza Horizon 4 retails at $59.99 digitally on PC and Xbox consoles
- There are no longer trials or free download periods available
- Contests and giveaways provide very limited chances to win free codes
- Xbox Game Pass includes Forza Horizon 4 for subscribers on Xbox and PC
*Buying used physical discs only applies to the Xbox One version - Meeting minimum and recommended PC specs is crucial
- Optimizing settings can help performance on lower end machines
- Expect a large 70+GB download before installation
- Forza Horizon 5 is bigger and more advanced but Horizon 4 remains excellent
- Alternatives like Moto Racer 4 or Asphalt 9: Legends are fully free to play
Forza Horizon 4 is absolutely worth the asking price for racing fans based on the sheer content and quality on offer. But with Xbox Game Pass, major sales, and bargain bin used copies, there are ways to mitigate the cost and experience this excellent racing adventure.
