Forza co-creator Dan Greenawalt is reportedly leaving Microsoft
Dan Greenawalt, co-creator of the Forza series and head of Turn 10 Studios, will retire after 27 years at Microsoft, transitioning to an advisory role during the merger of Turn 10 and Playground Games.
Dan Greenawalt, a key figure in the development of the Forza franchise and studio head of Turn 10 Studios, is set to retire after nearly 27 years at Microsoft. His departure follows the company's announcement of a merger between Turn 10 and Playground Games, the two studios behind the Forza series. Greenawalt will remain temporarily as an adviser during the transition period. The move is part of a broader restructuring that includes layoffs and the consolidation of multiple studios under Microsoft's gaming division.
The Verge reports that Greenawalt's retirement was confirmed in an internal memo from Trevor Williams of Playground Games, who stated that Greenawalt had decided it was the right time to leave. Greenawalt's contributions include leading the creation of Forza and founding Turn 10 Studios, as well as his frequent appearances at industry events like E3, often arriving with a supercar. Microsoft expressed gratitude for his leadership and partnership in a public statement.
Microsoft announced in September that Turn 10 and Playground Games would merge into a single entity as part of a larger restructuring plan. This restructuring also includes the merger of Obsidian Entertainment into Bethesda and the transfer of the Halo franchise to Activision. Additionally, 268 employees are expected to be laid off as part of these changes.
Turn 10 Studios had already been repurposed as a support studio for Playground's Forza Horizon following the 2023 reboot of Forza Motorsport. Former developer Fred Russell previously stated that the Motorsport series had effectively ended due to prior cuts at Microsoft. The merger of the two studios aims to streamline development and reduce redundancy within the company's gaming operations.