The holiday season is getting underway, and Turn 10 is rolling out its December update for all Forza Motorsport players across consoles and PC.
We’re heading to the Land Down Under for Update 15, named “Australia Month”, with the latest themed content and events celebrating the very best Aussie metal.
Coming in at 6GB on PC and Xbox Series X/S, this is quite a light update in comparison to previous ones, but there are still plenty of additions and changes to look through.
Lets unwrap Update 15 to see what’s new.
Table of Contents
- Forza Motorsport Update 15: Bathurst
- Forza Motorsport Update 15: Ray-Traced Global Illumination
- Forza Motorsport Update 15: Spotlight/VIP Cars
- Forza Motorsport Update 15: New Events
- Forza Motorsport Update 15: Challenge Hub
- Forza Motorsport Update 15: Multiplayer Events
- Forza Motorsport Update 15: Rivals
- Forza Motorsport Update 15: Other Changes
Forza Motorsport Update 15: Bathurst
The latest track to return to the roster is the famous Mount Panorama Circuit, also known as Bathurst. A jewel in the crown for Australian motorsport, Bathurst’s challenging narrow layout combined with steep elevation changes command respect and absolute commitment from drivers to put together a fast lap, especially over the mountain section.
Bathurst’s biggest events include the 12 Hours GT race and the blue riband Bathurst 1000 for the V8 Supercars championship. While Bathurst is the last track to be added for 2024, T10 is committed to continue adding circuits throughout 2025, so we can expect the next track to appear in Update 17.
Forza Motorsport Update 15: Ray-Traced Global Illumination
PC players receive a major graphics boost in Update 15 with the addition of Ray-Traced Global Illumination (RTGI). Using ray tracing hardware, RTGI can bring more accurate lighting and occlusion on the cars and tracks in real time.
RTGI is not enabled by default and will need to be switched on in the Graphics menu. However, in order to gain the best experiences with RTGI, you’ll need a very beefy PC. Although the minimum specs for RTGI include Nvidia 20 Series and AMD RX6000 Series GPUs, T10 recommends at least an Nvidia RTX 3080 to run higher settings.
Forza Motorsport Update 15: Spotlight/VIP Cars
In keeping with the Australian theme, a selection of classic and modern Aussie road and race cars will be dicounted over the coming weeks.
You can buy the cars with a 30% discount using in-game credits, and will also form the lineup for the new featured tour. VIP players can enjoy their own selection of cars for a 15% discount over the next four weeks.
Spotlight Cars
- Ford Falcon FG X #17 Shell V-Power Racing Team ’17, Holden VF Commodore #22 Walkinshaw Performance ’17 – December 11-18
- Holden HSV Commodore Group A SV ’91 – December 18-25
- Ford XB Falcon GT ’73, Ford Falcon XA GT-HO ’72 – December 25 – January 1
- 2014 HSV Limited Edition GEN-F GTS Maloo – January 1-8
VIP Discount Cars
- Nissan Altima Racecar ’17 – Dec. 11 – January 8
- Ferrari FXX K ’14 – December 11-18
- HSV GTSR ’96 – December 18-25
- Holden HQ Monaro GTS 350 ’73 – December 25 – January 1
- HSV GEN-F GTS ’14 – January 1-8
The main arrival among the Spotlight cars is the 1991 Holden Commodore HSV Group A SV. Like the 1985 VK Commodore before it, the VN-generation was a homologation special for Group A touring car racing.
Regulations at the time required a minimum of 500 road going versions, but the Holden only produced just over 300. Even so, it was allowed to go racing after being given special dispensation by Australia’s motorsport governing body.
Under the hood sits a 5.0-liter V8 putting out 288hp, with a 6-speed manual gearbox taken from a Corvette. The main upgrades to this big bruiser centered around the suspension and handling.
However the racing equivalent was ultimately outclassed in Group A by the mighty Nissan Skyline, with a lack of downforce being blamed.
Forza Motorsport Update 15: New Events
The latest featured Tour is a history lesson in looking through the greatest cars from Australia’s motorsport heritage. It should be noted however that the V8 Supercars featured are not Gen 3, but from 2017’s Gen 2 regulations.
American Thunder Tour
- V8 Supercars – Ford Falcon FG X #17 Shell V-Power Racing Team ’17, Holden VF Commodore #22 Walkinshaw Performance ’17
- Aussie Sports Sedans – Holden HSV Commodore Group A SV ’91
- Aussie Classics – Ford XB Falcon GT ’73, Ford Falcon XA GT-HO ’72
- Super Utes – 2014 HSV Limited Edition GEN-F GTS Maloo
In each series, you’ll get to wrestle with V8 Supercars, tame classics from yesteryear and discover why Utes are so iconic.
Once you complete each series, you’ll be rewarded with the 2013 Xbox Racing Holden Commodore to run in the final reward showcase. If you wish to use an alternate path, you can complete 10 races in the Forza AUS Series in Featured Multiplayer.
The Australian Tour begins on December 11 with V8 Supercars. The following series afterwards will be unlocked after a seven day period.
This tour is set to run until January 22, 2025, giving you plenty of time to work through each of the races.
Open Class Tour
The Open Tour gives you a free choice to build your favorite car as you progress from D Class to R Class.
Finish each series and your prize is the 2011 Holden HSV GTS. You can also choose to complete 10 Open Series races in Featured Multiplayer as an alternative. You’ll need to watch your scheduling for this one as the tour runs until January 8, 2025.
Forza Motorsport Update 15: Challenge Hub
The latest set of Weekly and Featured objectives for the Challenge Hub bring a new set of cars, races suits and credits to win across Single Player and Featured Multiplayer events.
Featured Challenges
- Aussie Challenge – Complete all series in the Australian Tour in Career OR Complete 10 races in the Forza AUS Series in Featured Multiplayer
- Open Class Challenge – Complete all series in the Open Class Tour in Career OR Complete 10 races in any Open Series in Featured Multiplayer
- Bathurst Challenge – Complete 10 clean laps at Bathurst in an Australian car
- Drifting through the Holidays – Beat 10 Rivals in the ‘Holly Jolly Holden’ Drift Rivals Event
- Commodore Conqueror – Get on the Podium in any Holden Commodore in a race with at least 10 opponents
- Stay Frosty – Complete a lap in the 2019 Elemental Rp1 on Nürburgring Nordschleife in the Rain
- Logitech McLaren G Challenge: Car Reward – Complete 15 laps in the ‘Logitech McLaren G Challenge Qualifier #2’ Rivals event
- Logitech McLaren G Challenge: Special livery by ‘THE FLG’ – Complete a clean lap in the ‘Logitech McLaren G Challenge Qualifier #2’ Rivals event
Rewards: Holden Commodore VF #10 Xbox Racing Team ’13, Holden HSV GTS ’11, Rebellious Race Suit, Formula Drift HSV Maloo GEN-F #530 ’16, HDT VK Commodore Group A ’85, Frostbite Race Suit, McLaren MP4/4 #12 Honda McLaren ’88, Logitech McLaren G Challenge Livery
Weekly Challenges
Dec 11-18
- Spotlight Challenge – Complete five races in the 2017 Holden VF Commodore #22 Walkinshaw Performance OR complete five races in the 2017 Ford Falcon FG X #17 Shell V-Power Racing Team
- Weekly Skills Challenge – Get a Podium in the Ferrari FXX Spec Series in Featured Multiplayer OR get a Podium in the V8 Supercars Series in Career
- Weekly Safety Challenge – Complete five races without receiving a penalty in Featured Multiplayer
- Weekly Rivals Challenge – Beat five Rivals in the ‘Featured Track – Bathurst’ Rivals event
- Weekly Track Challenge – Get a Segment Score of 8 or higher in ‘The Esses’ on Bathurst
Dec 18-25
- Spotlight Challenge: Reach car level 5 or higher in the 1991 Holden HSV Commodore Group A SV
- Weekly Skills Challenge: Qualify in Pole Position in any Featured Multiplayer race
- Weekly Safety Challenge: Complete five races without receiving a penalty in Featured Multiplayer
- Weekly Rivals Challenge: Complete 10 clean laps in any Rivals Event
- Weekly Track Challenge: Complete a lap on Bathurst at Sunset
Dec 25 – Jan 1
- Spotlight Challenge: Complete five clean laps in the 1973 Ford XB Falcon GT OR complete five clean laps in the 1972 Ford Falcon XA GT-HO
- Weekly Skills Challenge: Complete three clean laps in Qualifying in Featured Multiplayer
- Weekly Safety Challenge: Complete five races without receiving a penalty in Featured Multiplayer
- Weekly Rivals Challenge: Get a Drift Score of 10,000 in any Drift Rivals event
- Weekly Track Challenge: Get on the Podium at Bathurst in a race with at least 10 opponents
Jan 1-8
- Spotlight Challenge: Beat five Rivals in the ‘Spotlight – HSV Maloo’ Rivals Event
- Weekly Skills Challenge: Finish a race 10 positions ahead of where you started on the grid at Bathurst
- Weekly Safety Challenge: Complete five races without receiving a penalty in Featured Multiplayer
- Weekly Rivals Challenge: Complete 10 laps in Rivals in an Australian car
- Weekly Track Challenge: Complete five clean laps at Bathurst
Rewards: 10,000-25,000 Cr.
Forza Motorsport Update 15: Multiplayer Events
Australia is front and center for the latest featured events in a very busy schedule for multiplayer.
Like in the Featured Tour, choose your allegiance with either Holden or Ford and prepare to conquer Bathurst.
The popularity of NASCAR since its addition in Update 14 means it now becomes a permanent feature in the Spec Series events tab.
Rolling starts have also been added for Forza GT2 and GT3, Early LMP, Forza P1, Forza Proto-H, Formula Mazda and Endurance Series.
Open Series events sees Nurburgring Nordschleife added to Multi-Class, A-Class and S-Class, with the full 24 Hours layout added to R Class and Cycled Class Series.
Featured Series
- Forza AUS Series, Early LMP Series, Ferrari FXX Series – December 11-18
- Forza AUS Series, Road to Race Series, VW Golf GTI Spec Series – December 18-25
- Forza AUS Series, Track Toys Series, Formula Mazda Spec Series – December 25 – January 1
- Forza AUS Series + Forza P1 Series + Mustang Shelby GT500 Spec Series – January 1-8
Forza Motorsport Update 15: Rivals
Rivals gets a fresh update to put your best Australian machines through their paces to climb the leaderboards.
Bathurst gets its own featured event throughout Update 15 where you’ll get to put the Brabham BT62 through its paces over the famous mountain.
Players with VIP will get their own Bathurst event over the next several weeks featuring the 2019 Subaru WRX STI S209 Forza Edition.
Drifters will get to tackle Grand Oak in the Formula Drift HSV Maloo, or those keen to build their own will need to prepare their best C-Class car for Hakone Club Circuit.
The next round of the McLaren Logitech G Challenge will see you back behind the wheel of the 1988 McLaren MP4/4 as you try to set your best time around Silverstone Grand Prix Circuit.
Update 15’s Rivals list is down below;
- Featured Track –Bathurst – Brabham BT62 ’19 – Mount Panorama Circuit (December 11 – January 8)
- VIP – WRX Walkabout – Subaru WRX STI S209 Forza Edition – Mount Panorama Circuit (December 11 – January 8)
- Logitech G Challenge Qualifier #2 – McLaren MP4/4 #12 Honda McLaren ’88 – Silverstone – Grand Prix Circuit (December 11 – January 15)
- Open Class Drift – C Class – C Class, RWD – Hakone – Club Circuit (December 11 – January 8)
- Holly Jolly Holden – Formula Drift HSV Maloo GEN-F #530 ’16 – Grand Oak Raceway – Club Circuit (December 11 – January 8)
- Spotlight – V8 Supercars – Mount Panorama Circuit (December 11-18)
- Spotlight – Holden HSV Commodore Group A SV ’91 – Grand Oak Raceway – Club Circuit (December 18-25)
- Spotlight – Ford XB Falcon GT ’73, Ford Falcon XA GT-HO ’72 – Laguna Seca – Short Circuit (December 25 – January 1)
- Spotlight – HSV Limited Edition GEN-F GTS Maloo ’14 – Road Atlanta – Short Circuit (January 1-8)
Forza Motorsport Update 15: Other Changes
The continuing rework of car audio in Update 15 brings changes to another set of cars:
- BMW M3 ’91
- Ferrari F355 Berlinetta ’94
- Ferrrari LaFerrari ’13
- Ferrari F12tdf ’15
- Ferrari 812 Superfast ’17
- Mclaren P1 GTR ’15
Further PC optimisation includes more balanced rendering across more CPU cores to benefit entry to mid-level CPUs.
Forza GT gets split into seperate divisions in the Showroom to reflect their divsions in multiplayer, with Forza AUS and Forza T/A alongside GT2, GT3 and GT4.
Forza Race Regulations gets further tweaks to bring less false positive penalty assignments and will take tire wear into account when calculating off-track time penalties.
Featured Multiplayer sees Safety Rating tweaks to reduce severe fluctuations for greater accuracy. Players will also need to work even harder to have their rating calculated, with the number of races going up from 20 to 50.
Sadly for photographers, T10 has patched the photo mode “Free-Roam” bug in the Home Space. However, T10 has acknowledged its popularity and is actively gauging interest to have it developed into a feature.
Update 15 will run through Christmas into the New Year, with Update 16 confirmed for January 2025. T10 has also confirmed the update will be centered around BMW.
You can check out the full patch notes over here. Don’t forget to also stop by our Forza Motorsport forums for community discussion and discovering any possible undocumented changes.
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