Microsoft has confirmed that a sequel to Forza Horizon, the 2012 open road spin-off from its beloved racing simulator series, is coming later in 2014.
As with the first Horizon, the game will revolve around a racing festival and will be developed by UK studio Playground Games. Forza developer Turn 10 will be overseeing the project and providing tech from Forza 5. That means as well as realistic weather, Forza Horizon 2 will also feature a version of the Driveatar system, which populates the AI racers in your game with the driving styles of your real life online friends.
The setting this time around will be shifted from the American deserts to Southern Europe, leading to what creative director Ralph Fulton has decribed to IGN as "incredible diversity" and "amazing vistas".
Perhaps the biggest surprise is that the game is also planned for Xbox 360. That version is being developed by Sheffield based racing game specialist Sumo Digital, best known for the Sonic All-Stars Racing series and the critically acclaimed Outrun remake.
Forza Horizon 2 will be coming over the horizon later this year. As with all new game announcements at the moment, expect more details from E3 in Los Angeles next week.