Why Forza Motorsport Won’t Have the Nurburgring Nordschleife at Launch

Forza Motorsport will have 20 circuit locations when it arrives in September, with more to be added after launch. Some like the fictional Eaglerock Speedway are brand new. Fan-favourite circuits from past Forza games are also returning. But there’s a gaping omission in Forza Motorsport’s track list: the Nurburgring Nordschleife.

While the shorter Nurburgring GP circuit will be in Forza Motorsport on day one, the world-famous Nordschleife won’t be ready for launch. Now, Turn 10 has clarified why Forza Motorsport won’t have the Nurburgring Nordschleife at launch.

Why doesn’t Forza Motorsport have the Nurburgring Nordschleife?

Nicknamed the Green Hell, the Nurburgring Nordschleife is one of the world’s toughest racetracks, challenging even the most experienced and skilled drivers. Since appearing in Forza Motorsport 3, the gruelling German circuit has been in almost every Forza Motorsport game at launch.

Speaking to The Drive, Forza Motorsport’s General Manager Dan Greenawalt explained that the shorter GP circuit is a better fit for Turn 10’s vision of the Builder's Cup career mode.

"We know how important the iconic Nurburgring GP and Nordschleife are to the Forza community; especially in modes such as Rivals and Time Attack," Greenawalt said.

"In addition to both being completely rebuilt for Forza Motorsport, we focused on the Nürburgring GP circuit because of how well it fits into the vision we had for the Builder’s Cup career mode as well as Featured Multiplayer."

"Both of these modes focus on shorter sprint races as well as pitting and qualifying in the case of Featured MP or practice in the case of Builder’s Cup."

Greenawalt added that Turn 10 "specifically picked 20 tracks that best support our vision and create the most compelling experience for our players.”

“The most accurate Nordschleife ever available in Forza Motorsport"

While its omission at launch is disappointing, Greenawalt promises the "iconic 12.9-mile (20.83 km) Nordschleife will be coming in Spring 2024" and will be “the most accurate Nordschleife ever available in Forza Motorsport."

With every track being rebuilt in Forza Motorsport, the circuit’s complexity is likely another reason for the delay. 

This won’t be the first time a Forza Motorsport game hasn’t featured the Nurburgring Nordschleife at launch – Forza Motorsport 5 players had to wait over half a year. Seven months after launch, the iconic circuit was added in a free June 2014 update.  

At the time of writing, Turn 10 has confirmed 17 out of the 20 tracks at launch. You can view Forza Motorsport's track list here as well as the confirmed car list so far.