Xbox App Recommends Trying Out Delisted First-Party Game, Confusing Fans

Ahh, delisted digital video games. These things float around in the internet ether, accessible for owners to re-download on supported systems, but no longer purchasable on associated storefronts. However, that doesn’t always stop platforms from accidentally advertising them, as has seemingly happened here with the Xbox app.

Browsing Reddit earlier today, we spotted an Xbox fan confused as to why they were being recommended Forza Horizon 3 to pick up and try out. The 2016 open-world racer was delisted back in September 2020, and hasn’t been available to purchase on the Xbox Store since the date of its delisting.

Even so, Microsoft seemingly thinks this title is “tailored to your tastes” and worth a try, much to the frustration of said Reddit user. Jokes aside, it’s been suggested that the Xbox backend hasn’t quite differentiated between a delisted game and one that’s readily available in this instance, with the recommendation tool then pushing out the Forza Horizon 3 Deluxe Edition to this user.

The good news is that, even though you can’t buy this game digitally anymore (a disc copy is always an option on Series X of course), you can still download and play it if you owned the title prior to its delisting. And, despite some concerns about server closures last month, Playground Games fixed these issues, and Forza Horizon 3 remains playable at the time of writing.