As announced last month, the brand new Hot Wheels expansion for Forza Horizon 3 is now available, arriving alongside an extensive optimization update for the game"s Windows 10 version. Although the developer hasn"t released a new trailer for the launch, its original reveal trailer captures the expansion"s wonderful absurdity quite well, as seen above.
For the uninitiated, the new expansion adds six new Hot Wheels themed islands littered with the iconic orange Hot Wheels tracks in various configurations, as well as ten new cars and more. The expansion"s description in its store page reads:
The Forza Horizon 3 Hot Wheels expansion is the ultimate playground for cars! Located off the coast of Australia, this chain of islands is here to make your Hot Wheels fantasies come to life with loops, corkscrews, boost pads, high bank turns, half-pipes, insane jumps - and even mechanical dinosaurs! Race ten new cars including Hot Wheels icons like the Twin Mill and Boneshaker. Create custom Hot Wheels events by swapping out stunt track sections and dare your friends to try them.
Meanwhile, the update for the Windows 10 version of the game brings along a number of improvements, first of which is support for a whopping 21 new racing wheels. The new additions include wheels from Logitech, Fanatec, and Thrustmaster, with the full list available on the official website.
Next, the developer has added further optimizations to the Windows 10 version, such as better CPU multi-threading for a significant performance increase and some extra graphical options in-game. The options are aimed at players with lower end PCs, adding the "Very Low" option for Dynamic Geometry Quality and World Car Level of Detail graphics settings.
All the current graphical options have also received updated descriptions to explain better what each one accomplishes and the impacts upon hardware performance and resource consumption when cranked up. And, arriving as a welcome surprise, the developer has even managed to lower the minimum requirements of the game thanks to the update"s optimizations, with the updated requirements listed below:
CPU: i3-4170 @ 3.7Ghz
GPU: NVIDIA GT 740 | AMD R7 250x
VRAM: 2GB GDDR5
RAM: 8GB
Hard Drive Type: HDD
Resolution: 1280 x 720
Keep in mind that the updates to the Windows 10 version of the game does not require ownership of the new expansion and arrives free for all PC players.
For those who are interested in driving around loopy tracks and performing stunts, the Forza Horizon 3 Hot Wheels expansion is now available on the Windows Store for both Xbox One and Windows 10 with a $19.99 price tag. A bundle containing the base game plus the expansion is also available, going for $79.99 on the Windows Store. Otherwise, those that have purchased the Forza Horizon 3 Expansion Pass will receive the Hot Wheels expansion at no additional charge.
Source and image: Forza Motorsport