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Xbox and Ken Block Bring Forza Horizon 3 to Life in Gymkhana NINE

The wait is finally over for the latest installment in the Gymkhana series, starring race car driver Ken Block! Created by Hoonigan Industries in partnership with Hoonigan Racing Division, Gymkhana NINE Raw Industrial Playground draws inspiration from the Forza Horizon series of videogames, recreating the daring tricks and race events that only existed virtually until now.

“With Forza Horizon, our goal is to create the ultimate celebration of speed, style and freedom behind-the-wheel,” said Ralph Fulton, Creative Director. “What players get to do in the game – such as race an opponent whose vehicle is suspended from a fast-moving helicopter – are so incredible that they could probably never happen.”

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Recreating these larger-than-life showcase events became the inspiration and challenge for Ken Block and his team. “Taking those ideas and figuring out how to do them in reality is really quite difficult,” said Block, who faced not only stationary obstacles but large moving objects such as a freight train all while moving at high speed.

Forza Horizon 3 Train Showcase

“Since the beginning, Forza’s mission has been to turn gamers into car lovers, and car lovers into gamers,” said Dan Greenawalt, Creative Director at Turn 10. “Right now there are few people out there that are doing more to spread the love of cars and car culture than Ken Block. We’re thrilled to be working together with him on this project.”

Gymkhana NINE also extends the Forza partnership with Ford Performance. The 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor which appears in Gymkhana NINE will be available in Forza Horizon 3 at launch and is also featured on the cover of the new game.

Launch Event on Sept. 24

On Saturday, September 24, Ken Block, the developers of Forza Horizon 3, and Ford Performance will reunite at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles for a launch event from 4-7 PM PDT (11 PM – 1 AM UTC).

Forza Horizon 3 Launch at the Petersen

The event will feature a car show open to Los Angeles area car clubs, vehicles from Ford Performance including Ken Block’s Ford Focus RS and the 2017 F-150 Raptor factory race truck, as well as the opportunity to meet Ken Block!

The event will be streamed on Twitch.tv that Saturday, giving the chance for fans around the world to participate in the action including live-streamed Forza Horizon 3 gameplay from some of the world’s best players. The Petersen Automotive Museum is located at 6060 Wilshire Blvd. at Fairfax in Los Angeles, California 90036.