For the past several months, we here at Turn 10 have been talking to you, the Forza Faithful, about our mysterious Next Big Thing. Today, we toss aside those hushed mentions and sidelong glances, and officially unveil the identity of our next project: Forza Motorsport 4! The ground-breaking Forza Motorsport series will return to Xbox 360 in fall 2011, featuring support for Kinect as well as the classic controls you’ve come to expect from the Forza series.

For your first peek at the game, you need look no further than our announce trailer which aired Saturday, Dec. 11 during the 2010 VGA Awards on SPIKE (check out the trailer here). Those who saw the show know that our announcement included an incredible stunt performed by Top Gear USA’s own Tanner Foust—if you missed it, you can check out the video here on the site on Monday. You can also take a look at our first four screens from Forza Motorsport 4 in the Forza 4 VGA Gallery.

Now that Forza 4 is officially heading towards its fall finish line, we’ve only just begun talking about the game. We can’t wait to share all the juicy details of what we’re cooking up for all of you and, over the coming months, we’ll be bringing you regular Forza 4 updates here at forzamotorsport.net including the latest news, in-depth feature details, developer podcasts, and, of course, lots of eye candy in the form of videos and screenshots. This is the biggest Forza Motorsport yet, after all, and we’ll have plenty to talk about.

PRESS RELEASE:

“Forza Motorsport 4” will redefine the racing genre with controller-based and Kinect for Xbox 360-enabled gameplay to create the ultimate driving experience
Fire up your Xbox 360 and brace yourself for the most anticipated racing game of 2011. As part of the annual Video Game Awards on SPIKE TV, Microsoft gave a thrilling first glimpse at what’s in store for gamers next year, announcing the highly anticipated arrival of Turn 10 Studios’ “Forza Motorsport 4” in Autumn 2011.

The definitive racing game of 2011, “Forza Motorsport 4” will bring together genre-defining, controller-based racing, the power and freedom of Kinect, and content from leading brands like “Top Gear” to create an automotive experience unlike anything before it.

“Forza Motorsport 4” will be the most expansive and vividly realistic automotive experience across any console, bringing you closer to the edge than you’ve ever been before. Through the power of Kinect, players will be able to step through the TV screen and jump into the driver’s seat while the engaging controller-based experience will let you take on the bone-jarring physics, unparalleled levels of customisation, and rosters of dream cars and tracks. Offering game-play that will electrify racing fans and excite car lovers and novices alike, the highest-rated racing franchise of this generation returns in Autumn 2011.

For fans looking for the best racing experience available today, the “Forza Motorsport 3 Ultimate Collection” for Xbox 360 is in stores now and includes the award-winning racing title, all previously released Game Add-ons, and the Koenigsegg CCX, LEXUS LFA, and Mercedes Benz SLS-AMG supercars as part of the “Stig’s Garage Car Pack.” Owners will also receive a special 90-minute video compilation featuring “Top Gear” hosts Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May, as well as an exclusive Xbox LIVE “Top Gear” premium dashboard theme.

I refuse to believe all the cars will have that LOD.!

You mean we will have premium/standard cars?

I really hope not, that standard/premium crap makes me angry, please keep it well clear of Forza games!!

I refuse to believe all the cars will have that LOD.

You mean we will have premium/standard cars?

Needed Changes
+ Custom Lobbies
+ 12 cars (or more) on track
+ SystemLink
+ Forced Pit option
+ More AI for split screen games
+ Allow MP GP race series
+ NASCAR (muwahaha)

After how they said MP would be the same in interviews then HOSED it and treated people poorly about wanting it changed back I am on the fence on this one. I bought 2x copies on release day of FM3, so I am a fan, but I expect better.

Speaking to the site, developer Turn 10 revealed it's going to even more ridiculous lengths to make sure its racing sequel is the most realistic on the market, including scanning Bugatti Veyrons with 3D lasers.


Apparently, Turn 10's teamed up with tyre manufacturer Pirelli to create the "most up-to-date simulation of how modern tires grip or slip in a variety of racing conditions". Few players are likely to notice the difference, it's said, but the hardcore will appreciate the added accuracy.

Turn 10's also seemingly going the extra mile where accurate track recreation is concerned, renting out the real life version of each track in Forza 4 and spending two or three days to shoot terabytes worth of video and photos, and tracing the inside, middle and outside portions of the road surface with a commercial-grade GPS system.

The resulting game course tracks "road crowning, tiny changes in camber, or angle, and other anomalies with subcentimeter accuracy," all of which can be put in the game, it's said.

Of course Forza 4 will also include "limited functionality" with Kinect - which you can see here - including the ability to "walk around" vehicles and explore inside.

MSN's said there's also a "phantom steering wheel" to grip and full head-tracking, so "when you lean to one side or the other, the driver's perspective edges with you, letting you peer around a blind curve or just slightly around a car before passing it."

Turn 10's Dan Greenawalt said of the Kinect support: "I think we're just scratching the surface. I have the feeling that we'll all look back at these first few years of Kinect and reflect on it as a huge inflection point in interactive entertainment."

"most up-to-date simulation of how modern tires grip or slip in a variety of racing conditions"