I just installed Forza H 3 and I am confused about whether I am online or not. During my first couple campaign runs, I see other drivers with names above their cars. For example, I see “RacerKid79”… I thought multiplayer wasn’t unlocked until later in the campaign. Also, Multiplayer and other online related buttons in the menu are grayed out. Are the cars I’m seeing on the street with names above their heads real people and if so can they see me? Is there a way to communicate with them?
Other cars with names above are Drivatars. They can’t see you in this mode. (keep playing and earning fans and upgrading festival sites to unlock multiplayer menus)
Forza uses drivatar AI instead of typical AI. It examines player styles and ability and creates the AI from that. When you are aren’t playing the game, your drivatar with your name and liveries will still be used as an AI car to race other people when they are playing offline. Basically you’re always racing. This is why you will always see emails in your inbox with cash rewards that your drivatar has been earning while you weren’t playing. I like it because even when you aren’t playing the game, you’re always racing and earning something. You have to join an online session by clicking the online options in the menu to play online. Otherwise you are in single player mode and racing other people’s ghosts for lack of a better term.