The Brazilian racing franchise Horizon Chase is undergoing a significant contraction as a direct consequence of the ongoing financial and strategic crisis at its corporate parent, Epic Games. Developer AQUIRIS confirmed via social media that the original Horizon Chase and its enhanced version, Horizon Chase Turbo, will be permanently delisted from all digital storefronts, ceasing new sales as of June 1. This move leaves the newer, live-service oriented Horizon Chase 2 as the sole title in the series remaining available for purchase.
The Delisting Decision and Player Protections
In a statement aimed at its player community, AQUIRIS sought to clarify the implications of the removal. The studio confirmed that while the games will no longer be available for new purchases or downloads from storefronts after the June 1 deadline, the principle of preservation for existing owners will be upheld. Players who have already purchased either title will retain perpetual access to download and install their copies from their platform libraries. This policy is a standard, albeit crucial, practice in the industry, ensuring that consumers do not lose access to software they have legally acquired, even after a product is delisted.
“The original versions of Horizon Chase and Horizon Chase Turbo will no longer be available to download, starting on June 1st. The race continues in Horizon Chase 2,” the studio’s announcement read, directing the community’s attention toward the franchise’s future. The clear directive from the developer and, by extension, Epic Games, is to consolidate the player base and commercial focus onto Horizon Chase 2, which is available on iOS, PC via the Epic Games Store, and modern consoles.
A Timeline for Acquisition and Removal
The path to this delisting is deeply intertwined with corporate acquisition. AQUIRIS, the Porto Alegre-based studio behind the critically acclaimed arcade racer that paid homage to classics like Out Run and Top Gear, was acquired by Epic Games in 2023. The buyout was seen as a strategic move by Epic to bolster its portfolio of development talent and exclusive content for its ecosystem, particularly the Epic Games Store. Less than three years later, the repercussions of Epic’s broader corporate struggles have directly impacted this acquired asset, leading to the effective retirement of the foundational titles that built the franchise’s reputation.
The Epic Games Crisis as the Root Cause
This delisting is not an isolated business decision by AQUIRIS but a ripple effect from the substantial turmoil within Epic Games. The announcement follows shortly after Epic’s drastic cost-cutting measures, which included laying off approximately 1,000 employees across its numerous internal studios and divisions. This restructuring was attributed to what the company described as unsustainable financial pressures, primarily stemming from its flagship title, Fortnite.
Epic’s leadership stated that the Fortnite ecosystem had become “too expensive” to maintain at its previous scale, coinciding with a reported significant decline in the battle royale’s user base. The game’s shift toward a creator-led, metaverse-adjacent experience required immense investment, with revenues failing to meet expectations. This created a financial shortfall that necessitated widespread cuts, affecting not only personnel but also the portfolio of games and projects under the Epic umbrella. The removal of Horizon Chase and Horizon Chase Turbo from sale appears to be a part of this broader portfolio rationalization, aimed at reducing ongoing storefront maintenance costs and focusing resources on titles with active live-service models, like Horizon Chase 2.
Implications for Game Preservation and Digital Ownership
The event highlights the fragile nature of digital game preservation in an era of corporate-owned storefronts. While existing owners are protected, the removal of these titles severs access for all future players who may wish to experience the games that defined the series’ early success. Horizon Chase was particularly praised for its vibrant visual style, energetic soundtrack, and faithful recreation of 1990s arcade racing sensibilities. Its delisting raises questions about the long-term accessibility of culturally significant games that fall outside of a publisher’s current strategic focus, especially when tied to a specific digital distribution platform.
This scenario is becoming increasingly common, turning games like these into potential “abandonware” for new audiences, accessible only through secondary markets like key resellers or physical editions, if they exist. For a title like Horizon Chase Turbo, which served as a definitive edition with additional content and platforms, its removal marks the end of an official distribution channel for what many consider the best version of the original game.
Strategic Focus Shifts to Horizon Chase 2
The clear beneficiary, and intended destination for the community, is Horizon Chase 2. Launched as a live-service game with regular content updates, seasonal events, and a focus on multiplayer, it represents a modernized business model for the franchise. By sunsetting the older, one-time-purchase titles, Epic Games and AQUIRIS are effectively funneling all commercial interest and player engagement toward this ongoing service. This strategy mirrors industry-wide trends where publishers consolidate resources around games designed for continuous revenue streams through battle passes, cosmetic items, and expanded content.
For fans of the original’s simpler, pay-once-and-play model, this shift may be disappointing. However, from a business perspective, it represents a logical, if harsh, alignment of the Horizon Chase franchise with the economic realities of its parent company. Maintaining store pages, handling licensing for music or platforms, and providing even minimal support for older titles incurs costs. In a period of stringent financial discipline, such costs for products deemed legacy are often the first to be cut.
The Brazilian Development Scene and Corporate Integration
The situation also casts a spotlight on the experiences of talented independent studios following acquisition by global gaming giants. AQUIRIS was a point of pride for the Brazilian game development scene, creating a world-class product that found international success. Its acquisition by Epic was celebrated as a major milestone. The current developments serve as a reminder of the trade-offs involved: increased resources and reach come with heightened exposure to corporate volatility and strategic pivots decided continents away. The studio’s public communication regarding the delisting has been measured, focusing on the continuity offered by Horizon Chase 2, suggesting an effort to navigate these corporate directives while maintaining community goodwill.
As the June 1 deadline approaches, a final surge of sales for the delisting titles is likely, as collectors and curious players secure their permanent copies. After that date, the original Horizon Chase and Horizon Chase Turbo will transition from commercially available products to archived entries in the libraries of those who bought them. Their legacy as revitalizers of classic arcade racing remains intact, but their official journey as sellable products will end, a direct casualty of the turbulent economic winds currently buffeting Epic Games. The episode stands as a case study in how corporate consolidation and financial strain at the highest levels can directly alter the commercial lifespan and accessibility of creative works in the digital marketplace.
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