Forza Horizon 3 upgraded to native 4K resolution with Xbox One X patch
Today, Turn 10 Studios finally released the Xbox One X patch for Forza Horizon 3.

Not only does the upgrade bring native 4K resolution to the gorgeous game, but it also adds enhanced effects. While Forza Horizon 3 was always a beautiful experience, the increase in resolution and better reflections elevates the title. We tested out the patch and the best part is that it also looks markedly better on a 1080p display.
Aside from the trailer showcasing the enhancements, Microsoft issued the following statement detailing the changes.
Forza Horizon 3 on Xbox One X is powered by the same state-of-the art ForzaTech engine at the heart of the Forza franchise, also used to develop Forza Motorsport 7 for Xbox One X which brought native 4K resolution racing to the new platform. Forza Horizon 3 enhancements let players experience the game in native 4K along with a host of additional visual updates, including improved car reflections and shadow resolutions, improved texture detail for road and terrain surfaces, and more. In addition, 4K resolution enhancements will be fully compatible with both Blizzard Mountain and Hot Wheels expansions for Forza Horizon 3. Whether you're careening across the dunes of the Outback in your favorite off-roader or building up a legion of fans with death-defying stunt driving in the rainforest, the 4K-enhanced version of Forza Horizon 3 is a thrilling blend of fantastic gameplay and cutting-edge visuals.
Digital Foundry conducted an analysis on the game in which they determined that Forza Horizon 3 indeed ran at native 4K on the console. There isn't any checkerboarding or dynamic scaling solution involved here. Unfortunately, there isn't a 60 FPS option as the game even on Xbox One X is locked to 30 FPS. The base Xbox One also locked the game at 30 FPS.
It would've been great to see to see a 60 FPS toggle but Digital Foundry said that it might not be possible given the the CPU requirements. Despite the fact that it runs at 30 FPS, the Xbox One X patch is a worthy upgrade over the base experience for the improvement in visuals.
If you're looking for a thrilling open world racing game, be sure to give Forza Horizon 3 a go. In our review we said that "this is the biggest Forza Horizon to date and it's not just the best Forza game, it's one of the best games you can buy on the Xbox One. Playground Games outdid itself...and Microsoft has something truly spectacular here. The appeal of Horizon is wider than a circuit based racer, and this massive, glorious representation of Australia is something to behold. It is truly a work of art." Be sure to check it out at your favorite retailer.
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Keep an eye on WindowsCentral.com/Gaming for all the latest in Xbox and Windows 10 gaming, accessories, news, and reviews!
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Asher Madan handles gaming news for Windows Central. Before joining Windows Central in 2017, Asher worked for a number of different gaming outlets. He has a background in medical science and is passionate about all forms of entertainment, cooking, and antiquing.
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It looks awesome, especially the HDR implementation
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This game supported HDR before the enhancement patch. The new update pretty much just increased resolution.
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I have it on Xbox Anywhere... I love that feature.
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Me too. One of the XPA game I'm still playing on my Alienware NB when I'm out, no lengthy story and hassles, good for a quick bash.
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Awesome!! This game was already gorgeous and one of the best open world racing games ever made. Just icing on the cake at this point
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I agree playground have outdone then selfs again
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Wow, the update is less than 700mb too!
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Wow that is impressive although I think there was a big update before Xmas so this maybe why.
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Nice! Been waiting for this!
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My Xbox One X doesn't say there's an update for it. When sorting my games by last updated, Forza Horizon 3 shows up in the "over a month" group. Do I need to launch it to get the patch?
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I'm also wondering... Don't see any update at the moment
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I'm also wondering... Don't see any update at the moment
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A hard reset should show a more updated list! I did this just the other day.
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Best console ever!!
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I've just downloaded about a week ago the demo of Forza Horizon 3 and that was 21,5GB on my laptop. How do I play it without controller only keyboard? Can't I use my Lumia 950 as controller by installing an App?
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I am actually quite disappointed with the upgrade as there seems to be an HDR issue: the game is darker, like in a permanent solar eclipse. The good thing is that I'm not the only one reporting this and I really hope a fix is on its way!