Forza Horizon 2 reaches PC: unofficial Azimuth port is already available
Twelve years after its Xbox One release, Forza Horizon 2 finally runs on Windows — though without Microsoft's involvement. The port, titled Azimuth, comes from the team at Almost There Games, takes the console version as its base and adds graphics presets, frame rate selection and Steam Deck support.
Forza Horizon 2 never received an official Windows release, but enthusiasts have taken on the challenge of getting around that limitation. The Azimuth project from the Almost There Games team allows the 2014 racing game to run on PC.
What is this project
It is based on the Xbox One build, rather than the separate Xbox 360 version. The game data is not included: the launcher works only with files the user already has, and Xbox account sign-in is not provided. Microsoft did not release a new PC version.
Instead of emulating the entire console library, Azimuth solves a narrow task — it intercepts the game's calls to Xbox system functions and adapts them for Windows and DirectX 12. The main target system is Windows 11; on Linux the launcher runs via Proton, which Steam Deck is also based on.
How to launch
You need to download Azimuth itself, open azimuth.exe, and specify the game folder containing the required files. There is an important limitation: the project is compatible only with version 1.0.0.64; it will not work with other builds.
Graphics settings
- Resolution: screen size and resolution — from 720p and higher, depending on the monitor;
- Frame rate: capped at 30 or 60 FPS;
- Three presets: Low (below Xbox One level), Default (same as console), and High — improved shadows and reflections, more distant shadows, detailed car models, and better texture filtering;
- Anti-aliasing: off, 2x MSAA, or 4x MSAA.
Performance
According to the developers, on Steam Deck the port delivers about 60 FPS at 720p and around 30 FPS at 1080p. These figures apply to a specific configuration and do not guarantee the same result on any hardware.
What is missing
There is no Xbox Live integration, so multiplayer, online leaderboards, and achievements are unavailable — the game's official servers were shut down back in August 2023. The focus is on the single-player portion: buying cars, championships, and free exploration of the map of southern France and northern Italy.
Status and plans
Azimuth is in pre-release development. Recent updates have already resolved some issues with buying cars, painting, photo mode, and audio. The team's plans include HDR, an Ultra preset, higher frame rates, and further optimization, while support for expansions such as Storm Island has not yet been confirmed.
👉 Sources: DSOGaming, PlayGround.ru
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