Forza Co-Creator Dan Greenawalt Departs Microsoft After 27 Years

Dan Greenawalt, one of the central figures behind the Forza racing franchise, has stepped down from Microsoft following nearly 27 years at the corporation. Greenawalt contributed to almost every release in the series, starting as the lead game designer on the original Forza Motorsport released in 2005.

Over the course of his career, Greenawalt became the head of Turn 10 Studios and served as the primary public voice of the racing brand. His departure follows significant organizational restructuring across Microsoft's gaming division. Active development on Forza Motorsport effectively wound down following substantial layoffs in 2025, and in September 2026, the Turn 10 team was merged with UK-based studio Playground Games.

Following that consolidation, the original Turn 10 brand ceased to operate independently, with remaining team members integrated into the newly designated Playground Games Redmond outfit. Greenawalt's exit after more than two decades at the helm marks the conclusion of the classic era of Forza Motorsport.