A Look at the Forza Horizon 3 Ultimate Edition Limited Edition Steelbook Case

An Amazon product listing for Forza Horizon 3 Ultimate Edition revealed the game’s limited edition steelbook case. The metal case was a key physical bonus for purchasers of the premium version of the racing title. The cover art featured the game’s two hero cars, the Lamborghini Centenario and the 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor, set against a stylized Australian coastal backdrop, reflecting the game’s new setting. For collectors and enthusiasts, steelbook cases offer a more durable and premium alternative to the standard plastic packaging, often featuring unique artwork that makes them desirable display items.

Ultimate Edition Contents and Early Access

The Ultimate Edition was more than just a special case. The bundle included a physical disc of Forza Horizon 3 along with a collection of digital content. Buyers received the Forza Horizon 3 Car Pass, which was planned to deliver a monthly selection of new vehicles to expand the player’s garage over the first six months after launch. This model provided a steady stream of content for dedicated players.

Also included was a VIP Membership. In previous Forza titles, this granted players exclusive benefits such as bonus credits from Wheelspins, access to exclusive online events, and a special icon next to their gamertag to signify their status in the community. The membership typically came with a handful of exclusive cars as well, making it a valuable addition for those who planned to spend significant time in the game’s online modes. The bundle was rounded out with access to the Forza Hub App, a companion application for tracking progress across the franchise.

A major incentive for purchasing the Ultimate Edition was early access. The bundle was scheduled for release on September 23, 2016, in North America. This gave players a four-day head start before the game’s standard edition launched on September 27.

The Motorsport All-Stars Car Pack

A specific digital add-on included in the Ultimate Edition was the Motorsport All-Stars Car Pack. This pack featured 10 modern race cars, allowing players to immediately take some track-focused machines to the open roads of Australia. This content bridged the gap between the track-racing Forza Motorsport series and the open-world Horizon festival.

The pack included a variety of racing vehicles. Among them were the 2016 Ford #66 Ford Racing GT Le Mans, the 2014 Audi #45 Flying Lizard Motorsports R8 LMS ultra, and the 2014 Chevrolet #3 Corvette Racing Corvette C7.R. Other notable cars in the pack were the 2014 Dodge #94 SRT Motorsports Viper GTS-R, the 2014 Ferrari #51 AF Corse 458 Italia GTE, the 2015 Nissan #1 Nismo Motul Autech GT-R, and the 2015 Lamborghini #63 Squadra Corse Huracán LP620-2 Super Trofeo. This collection offered a diverse set of high-performance cars from different racing disciplines right from day one.

Development by Playground Games

Forza Horizon 3 was developed by Playground Games, the studio responsible for the entire Horizon spin-off series. The team had established a strong reputation with its previous work on Forza Horizon and Forza Horizon 2, including its expansions like Storm Island and the standalone Forza Horizon 2 Presents Fast & Furious. The studio’s expertise in creating vast, engaging open-world racing environments was a key factor in the series’ success.

The game was published by Microsoft Studios and was a significant title for the company’s gaming division in 2016. It launched on both Xbox One and Windows 10 PCs. Forza Horizon 3 was also a flagship title for the new Xbox Play Anywhere initiative. This program allowed players to buy a single digital copy of the game and own it on both Xbox One and Windows 10, with game progress, saves, and achievements synchronized between the two platforms. This feature represented a major step in Microsoft’s strategy to unify its gaming ecosystem across console and PC.