Epic Games' Actions Lead to Delisting of Acclaimed Racer Horizon Chase Turbo

Following recent reports of Epic Games' drastic cost-cutting measures, which included laying off over 1000 employees and shutting down several Fortnite game modes, the company has faced widespread criticism. However, the situation appears to be even more dire. Another casualty of Tim Sweeney's controversial decisions is the beloved racing game Horizon Chase and its enhanced PC and console version, Horizon Chase Turbo, both of which are slated for removal from digital storefronts soon.

This development was announced via an official social media post from the game series, stating: "The original version of Horizon Chase and Horizon Chase Turbo will no longer be available to download, starting on June 1st."

Originally developed for mobile phones by the Brazilian studio then known as Aquiris, Horizon Chase launched in 2015. A few years later, in 2018, an excellent improved version for PC and consoles, titled Horizon Chase Turbo, was released. The game clearly drew inspiration from 16-bit era racing titles like Outrun and Top Gear, even featuring a soundtrack composed by Barry Leitch, the legendary musician behind Top Gear's iconic music.

Aquiris went on to release the sequel, Horizon Chase 2, on mobile devices in 2022, with console and PC versions following in subsequent years. While Horizon Chase 2 is also an excellent game—despite notable performance issues on Nintendo Switch—and introduces an online multiplayer mode, some players still prefer Horizon Chase Turbo for its greater variety of tracks and its unique fuel system, which is absent in the sequel.

In 2023, Aquiris was acquired by Epic Games and subsequently rebranded as Epic Games Brazil. This acquisition means Epic Games now owns the Horizon Chase franchise, making the decision to remove the first game from stores entirely theirs, likely as part of their aggressive cost-reduction strategy. At the time of this writing, the fate of the studio's members remains unknown, raising concerns about their future.

Horizon Chase and Horizon Chase Turbo will remain available for purchase in digital stores only until Monday, June 1, 2026. While many may feel reluctant to support Epic Games at this time, these titles represent exceptional racing experiences that are undoubtedly worth owning. Once acquired, players will still be able to download their purchased copies even after the games are removed from the PS Store, Xbox Store, Nintendo eShop, Steam, Epic Games Store, Google Play, and App Store.

The trajectory of the video game industry simply cannot continue in this manner.