Forza Horizon 3 VIP Membership review

Forza Horizon 3 has quickly raced its way into the hearts of many Xbox One and Windows 10 gamers. Although you can enjoy Horizon 3 for ages without buying any DLC, content like the VIP Pass can be mighty tempting. The $20 VIP pass offers exclusive cars and in-game rewards, but is it a must-have?

How to become a VIP

Forza Horizon 3 VIP Membership review

Permanent VIP access for Forza Horizon 3 costs $19.99. VIP membership is also included with the Forza Horizon 3 Deluxe Edition ($79.99) or the Forza Horizon 3 Ultimate Edition ($99.99). The Deluxe and Ultimate options include the Motorsports All-Star Car Pack DLC ($10 value), making them a better value than buying VIP separately.

To buy VIP directly from in-game:

  1. Press the Start/Menu button. This will bring up the pause menu.
  2. Navigate to the Marketplace tab. It will be all the way to the right.
  3. Select VIP membership. You'll be taken to the VIP page in the store.

Alternately, you buy the VIP Membership directly from the Windows Store page or Amazon (opens in new tab).

A big improvement over Forza Horizon 2's VIP Pass is that buying VIP Membership in Horizon 3 grants VIP access to other Gamertags on the purchaser's home console. That way, the whole family can benefit from a single VIP purchase. Buying VIP membership will unlock the content for the purchaser on both Xbox One and Windows 10, as well.

See on the Windows Store (opens in new tab)

VIP benefits at a glance

Forza Horizon 3 VIP 2016 Koenigsegg Regera

The Forza Horizon 3 VIP membership includes five cars right off the bat. These are exclusive to VIPs and can't be obtained any other way, plus a few bonuses like Double Wheelspin earnings, exclusive online events, and community gifts from the Forza team.

The VIP Cars

2016 Lamborghini Aventador LP750-4 SV

  • Class: S2
  • In-game credits value: 480,000

2016 Koenigsegg Regera

  • Class: S2
  • In-game credits value: 1,900,000

2015 Ferrari F12tdf

  • Class: S2
  • In-game credits value: 500,000

2015 Ultima Evolution Coupe 1020

  • Class: S2
  • In-game credits value: 130,000

2015 Ford Falcon GT F 351

  • Class: A
  • In-game credits value: 60,000

Additional Benefits

Forza Horizon 3 Level Up Wheelspin VIP

On top of the five exclusive cars in the VIP pack, the main reason to get VIP membership is the Double Wheelspin earnings. This boosts the amount of credits you win from wheel spins when you level up. The boosted value is accompanied by a snazzy new "VIP x 2" graphic as well. Credits can be spent on buying new cars and upgrades for your cars.

Leveling up is much more worthwhile for VIP members. If you're the kind of player who doesn't have that much time to play (like me), the increased wheel spin rewards can be super handy. You'll be able to buy new cars much faster, allowing you to participate in more types of races without resorting to rentals.

As with other Forza VIP passes, Horizon 3 VIPs get in-game recognition as well. All VIP members have a crown displayed next to their Gamertags. That applies to everyone who plays from the VIP owner's home console too, so your whole family can look like VIPs – at least while they're on the home console.

You'll see crowns when encountering or competing against other Drivatars, during multiplayer games, and while browsing car club ladders and leaderboards. The crown doesn't do anything special, but it does tell everybody what a big Forza fan you are.

Two of the VIP membership benefits are not available just yet: in-game gifts and exclusive multiplayer events. Throughout the life of the game, the game developers will occasionally send new cars as gifts to VIP players. Forza Horizon 2 VIP members received a total of six community car gifts during the first eight months following the game's release.

As for the exclusive online events, I wouldn't expect much from them. Forza Motorsport 6's VIP events were just Rivals races, one of the least exciting types of races in both games. Forza Horizon 3's VIP events might be different, but I'm not holding my breath.

Join the Windows Central Forza Horizon 3 Club!

Forza Horizon 3 Windows Central Car Club

Clubs are Forza Horizon 3's version of guilds or clans. There are several benefits to membership, such as weekly clan leaderboards and prizes for moving through the club tiers.

Clubs don't unlock until you get your fifth Festival expansion – a few hours into the game. After that, you're free to join Windows Central's official club on Xbox One! Search for us by name: Windows Central or club tag: WinC. With your help, we'll become one of the top clubs in the game as we did with Horizon 2!

Overall impression of VIP Membership

Forza Horizon 3 VIP 2016 Koenigsegg Regera

Forza Horizon 3's VIP Membership is a totally optional add-on intended just for serious fans of the game (and players in a hurry). Many players will be able to pass on VIP and never feel like they missed out. But I do recommend VIP membership to car collectors and people who just love the Horizon series beyond all reasoning. If Forza Horizon 3 is already your game of the year (as it is mine), don't hesitate to show your love to the world by becoming a Very Important Player.

See on the Windows Store (opens in new tab)

Paul Acevedo

Paul Acevedo is the Games Editor at Windows Central. A lifelong gamer, he has written about videogames for over 15 years and reviewed over 350 games for our site. Follow him on Twitter @PaulRAcevedo. Don’t hate. Appreciate!

24 Comments
  • Just based on the photos from this article (looking on my phone) this game looks stunning graphics wise!
  • It sure is one of the most graphically astonishing games on both PC and consoles
  • Might get this before Gears 4. Don't have time to play both right away and I've never played a horizon forza game. Something a bit different
  • Both should be amazing games, but yeah, jumping on-board with Horizon 3 would not be a bad thing. It's overflowing with beautiful landscapes and cars, and offers so much to do by yourself or with friends.
  • Loving the game, but not enough to buy into the obscene digital content pricing from Turn 10 and MS. Might get the expansions, but don't need credits or the extra cars. I will wait to see what the expansions are before deciding.
  • I always buy the VIP pass on Forza games
  • Given that I'm still plugging away at FH and FH2 I'll probably wait until the deluxe edition is on special then grab it, I'm in no hurry. I know the game is worth the usual 100 bucks but i just have so much else to play it'll just sit around anyway.
  • Nice review. Will have to pick up VIP in the near future
  • From here on out I will only be getting the Ultimate Editions of the Horizon games.  They are well worth the money since I put a couple hundred hours into the game and it doesn't get repetitive!  Each race is fun and thrilling!!
  • Same here! Definitely worth it!
  • The VIP sounds like a good idea, I'll probably look into it when I grab this game. Never enough time to play, anything that helps speed things up is nice.
  • I'm enjoying having VIP and the Double Wheelspins, definitely worth it. The VIP cars are all great as well. I'm really happy others on the same console also benefit from VIP as well, it was a nice surprise :D
  • H Jonno107, Please can you inform me, if that works? Can any other family member use the VIP pass, including the double XP bonus, the spinwheel  bonus and gets the cars for free? Microsoft told me that its just for one profile. TIA & Regards, Aslan
  • As stated in the review, all accounts who play on the home Xbox of the person who owns the VIP membership will have access to its benefits.
  • Thank you, Paul. But do you have tested it by yourself? Nowhere I found this, even everywhere that the bonusses will works just for one person.
    And Microsoft write the following: MS: Hey Aslan! Generally passes like that are only for one Gamertag. Thanks! Thanks again...
  • Yes, I've tested it. I wouldn't put that in the review if I wasn't sure about it. :)
  • Hi Paul,
    thank you so much! 👍☺
    Seems you know Microsofts products better than they. I bought the VIP pass right now and all gamertags have got the same bonusses, the free cars, the crown, the 2x XP....
    I have to inform Microsoft that the are wrong. Thanks again and have a nice day. Regards, Aslan
  • Accidently bought VIP, it's nice having to earn extra $ in game and extra car.
  • I may actually want to buy this game. Have to say awesome job forza
  • I thought VIP gives you discounts on the other dlc as well?  Isn't the expansion pass supposed to be $10 cheaper with VIP?
  • The Season Pass (which contains two expansions) is $10 cheaper for Ultimate Edition owners - $24.99 instead of $34.99. Regular VIP members don't receive a discount.
  • Good information to have, I need to purchae 2 one for my house and one for my grandson great game we can play together. Love love the visuals.  
  • i bought the vip member ship ingame and i did a wheel spin and i didnt get a 2x bonus, is ther anything i have to do?
  • You might need to relaunch the game before the VIP will take effect.