Currently, the Steam version of Forza Motorsport does not include Xbox Gaming Services, despite it being a required component for the game to function properly. Players who do not have Xbox Gaming Services installed encounter errors upon launching the game.
While Windows users can resolve this issue by manually installing Xbox Gaming Services through the Microsoft Store, Linux and Steam Deck users are left without a viable solution. This forces many players to rely on forum troubleshooting guides and expend unnecessary effort attempting to get the game running.
Proposal
To address this issue, I propose that the Steam version of Forza Motorsport includes Xbox Gaming Services as part of its installation process. This change would:
Eliminate the need for manual installations, streamlining the setup process.
Ensure all players, including Linux and Steam Deck users, can access the game without facing compatibility issues.
Prevent frustration among users who are eager to play but are hindered by avoidable technical barriers.
Benefits
Improved User Experience: Including required components ensures players can launch the game seamlessly, regardless of their platform.
Broader Accessibility: By accommodating non-Windows users, Forza Motorsport strengthens its reputation as a platform-agnostic game.
Reduced Support Overhead: Resolving this issue at the installation stage would likely decrease the number of support tickets and troubleshooting posts on forums.
By integrating Xbox Gaming Services directly into the Steam version, Forza Motorsport can provide a more inclusive and polished experience for its entire player base.
Yeah, I also think Gaming Services should be a redistributable, but at the end of the day, that’s Microsoft’s call.
The real problem here is the design. Software should “just work” without requiring the user to manually install missing pieces—like how a device shouldn’t be sold without a battery. And if that battery is only available at a specific store, that’s even worse.
If dependency resolution happened inside the game itself, the user wouldn’t even have to think about it, regardless of how Microsoft decides to package Gaming Services.
Just adding, but since Forza Horizon 5 is coming to PlayStation 5 (and perhaps Motorsport will follow suit?), I think there’s more reasons to bring this game to other platforms, especially with how Microsoft has been bringing their exclusives to competing platforms.
In fact, making this game compatible with Proton might take less work compared to porting it over to PS5.
Because Forza Horizon 5 was a highly polished and well-optimized experience, I assumed Forza Motorsport would be equally refined. However, it feels more like an experimental attempt to make an inherently rigid design work, rather than a game built with flexibility in mind. As a result, it suffers from Proton compatibility issues, making it difficult to run on Linux-based systems.
While Proton compatibility is primarily Valve’s responsibility, a well-structured game should naturally lend itself to smoother porting. If the core architecture were designed with adaptability in mind, these issues would be far less severe. The fact that Forza Motorsport struggles so much suggests that its underlying framework is less portable than it should be, raising concerns about its overall technical design.
Well I’d say this poor design lies on how this game relies on external dependencies, which is a generally bad idea as most games ship the required dependencies with themselves.
And this issue is also impacting Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, but to a much smaller extent. The game itself works fine, but you can’t use Xbox Cloud Saves because Gaming Services can’t be installed under Proton.
So as I’ve said before, Gaming Services should be treated as a redistributable on Microsoft’s Steam releases.
Forza Motorsport and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle both rely on Xbox Gaming Services, but the impact differs—Forza Motorsport faces a critical failure, while Indiana Jones only suffers a minor disruption. This highlights how Forza’s online features are deeply embedded, making it fragile—like a citywide blackout from a single failure.
However, making Gaming Services redistributable wouldn’t solve this issue. The real solution lies in reducing its dependency and improving offline stability. The real debate here should be whether to include Xbox Gaming Services in the Steam version of Forza Motorsport, not its online reliance—that’s a separate issue that should be set aside for now.
My proposal is to shift external dependencies to internal ones, eliminating platform-based inconsistencies and enabling a design that isn’t tied to Xbox Gaming Services.
Here are some relevant discussions where this issue should be addressed:
I’d say we should keep the discussion here because even if Forza Motorsport does end up getting a proper offline mode, the game may still not work if they still force us to use shared saves with Xbox/MS Store (and not give us the option to use Steam Cloud), which is almost certainly what Gaming Services is used for judging by Indiana Jones and the Great Circle.
So I think having the discussion here is more likely to get us there instead of just getting proper offline support.
The key difference between Forza Motorsport and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is how much they rely on online services.
Forza Motorsport has strict launch restrictions, likely for anti-cheat measures and security.
Indiana Jones does not have such restrictions.
But this only tells us whether a game is more or less online-dependent.
It doesn’t really relate to whether Xbox Gaming Services should be built into the system or remain external.
Well let me say that the fact Forza even provides a Steam Deck support page implies that Forza titles have some sort of official support for that platform, even making it an option when making a support ticket.
So now it’s unclear how Forza games are supported on Steam Deck, but I presume only Playground supports it while Turn 10 doesn’t care.
I’ve never seen that support page before. I’m surprised that it was written by the Forza team, yet it sounds as if they are talking about someone else’s issue.
They could do it the way Ubisoft is doing it for AC: Shadows on Steam, ship a lite version of Gaming Services that only comes with what’s needed for the games on Steam (i.e. cloud saves, authentication, etc.)
Come on Microsoft - please add in Gaming Services to the Steam package. Forza Motorsport is practically made for handheld ergonomics and play style. The only issue preventing it from running on Steam Deck is missing gaming services. It’s up to you to fix that! Also that’ll make me revert my review on Steam since the game is actually great by now but i won’t make it a positive review as long as i can’t run in outside of Windows.
