Turn 10 Director Leaves Microsoft as Forza Studio Merges With Playground Games

Image Source: Pure Xbox

Dan Greenawalt is leaving Turn 10 Studios after 27 years, as the Forza Motorsport developer merges into Playground Games and is officially renamed Playground Games Redmond.

Greenawalt was there from day dot for Team Green, shipping original Xbox title Project Gotham Racing in 2001 before going onto to lead the creation of Forza, founding Turn 10 Studios, and publishing eight phenomenal racing games.

Reported by The Verge’s Tom Warren, Playground Games Studio head Trevor Williams shared an internal memo with his team that “Dan Greenawalt has decided that this is the right time for him to retire from Microsoft”,.

“It’s hard to overstate Dan’s impact over the past 27 years. From shipping Project Gotham Racing on the original XBOX in 2001 to leading the creation of Forza, founding Turn 10 Studios and appearing so many times on our E3 stage, usually making a dramatic entrance with a supercar in tow – and so much more – we owe tremendous thanks and gratitude to Dan. On behalf of both teams, I would like to thank Dan for his leadership, his support, and his partnership. I wish him well for whatever comes next.”

With Greenawalt retiring from Microsoft, and Turn 10 spun into Playground Games Redmond, the team is now helping with the development of Forza Horizon and Fable.

It seems likely that Forza Motorsport’s 2023 reboot is looking like the last in the series of storied track racers, as focus now shifts to Playground Games’ portfolio. We’re still holding onto hope that another Motorsport will hit the shelves one day, but for now, we wish Greenawalt well and thank him for the bangin’ racing games he helped produce.