Porsche and Microsoft team up for 6-year Forza partnership and new car pack

Speaking at the New York International Auto Show, Porsche and Microsoft have announced a new six-year partnership based around the Forza franchise. The "multi-project" partnership will kick off with the Porsche-sponsored Forza Racing Championship Season 3: The Porsche Cup.

From Microsoft (opens in new tab):

We entered this premium partnership with Porsche as a result of their shared passion for sports cars and motorsport. Porsche has a rich history of motorsport which combined with Turn 10's unrivaled position in digital racing entertainment has formed the basis for a new and exciting form of seamlessly integrated racing entertainment. The partners are working to develop and launch new ways to combine driving experiences, racing schools, and dominant motorsport successes with Forza's regular cadence of high-quality game experiences, content, and events.

The first fruit of this partnership, Forza's Racing Championship New York Invitational present by Porsche will kick off on April 15-16 at Microsoft's flagship Fifth Avenue store. The invitational will include 18 ForzaRC Elite players competing for $25,000 in cash prizes. Microsoft is also planning to stream the event live on Beam, Twitch and YouTube.

The second bit of news to come out of this partnership is a new Porsche car pack, available today for Forza Horizon 3. Available for $6.99, the pack includes the follow 7 cars:

  • 2016 Porsche 911 GT3 RS
  • 2017 Porsche Panamera Turbo
  • 2016 Porsche Cayman GT4
  • 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS
  • 1995 Porsche 911 GT2
  • 1960 Porsche 718 RS 60
  • 1955 Porsche 550A Spyder.

Given the 6-year length of the partnership, it's certain that Microsoft and Porsche have plenty of surprises up their sleeves with this deal. That should mean some pretty exciting stuff is on the horizon for Forza fans over the next several years.

See at the Xbox Store (opens in new tab)

Dan Thorp-Lancaster

Dan Thorp-Lancaster is the former Editor-in-Chief of Windows Central. He began working with Windows Central, Android Central, and iMore as a news writer in 2014 and is obsessed with tech of all sorts. You can follow Dan on Twitter @DthorpL and Instagram @heyitsdtl

15 Comments
  • Hopefully Porsche's are included in Forza7 for free, not dlc. Now that the EA deal is over and Gran Turismo will have them. I've spent a lot over the years adding them to my Forza's.
  • I hope "Premium" doesn't mean exclusive. EA had that, and everyone lost. If it is, I could see why they wouldn't boast, as that EA deal was quite unpopular. 
  • I think this deal means no Porche in Gran Turismo.
  • @Dan Is this included if you bought the FH3 Car Pass Add-on?
  • On the comments of the video from Xbox, the answer is : NO.
    Car Pass cover 6 months of car pack and this one is the 7th month.
  • It is not, I bought the Ultimate Edition with Car Pas and this is the first DLC that isn't included...
  • Forza's just better with Porsche. 
  • Love the Porsche add-on in FM6 - Haven't finished it (yet) maybe this Easter weekend! Then on to the not-as-good NASCARs.
  • Remember when you unlocked cars in racing games, instead of having to buy them. Pepperidge Farm Remembers...
  • Well, this is a twist.  FH3 had an expansion pass available through the first of December that got you two expansions.  The first was Bilzzard Mountain and everyone has assumed the second would be Porsche.  Now it turns out Porsche is a separate car pack with just 7 cars, not a full expansion with 20 cars plus additional terrain like Forza 6 had. I wonder if the rest of the Porsche vehicles will be released later.  Conspicuously absent are the Carrera GT, the 959, the 918, and Cayenne.
  • They are in #Forzathon, which is great!
  • Wow so this isn't free with the car pass....smh
  • Thanks Forza, I am looking forward to checking this out. Good selection of Porsche (apart from the missing 959, 928 and 918 or Carrera GT). Almost like an early easter present.
  • I love this deal. No more Porsche bs again.