Forza Horizon gets $50 DLC pass

Microsoft's new racing simulator Forza Horizon will run gamers $60 at launch next month, but should players wish to pick up all downloadable content for the game, the total cost will exceed $100.

Microsoft has announced the Forza Horizon Season Pass, a $50 offer that includes an unnamed expansion pack due on December 18, as well as six car packs. These will be released throughout the balance of 2012 and into 2013. Each will include six new vehicles, and those who pick up the Season Pass will also score five additional cars and a "launch day pack."

Purchased separately, all DLC for Forza Horizon will cost about $58, meaning those who pick up the Season Pass will save about 17 percent. The DLC pass for Forza Horizon is the most expensive in the series to date, significantly surpassing Forza 4's $30 offering.

Forza Horizon is due out exclusively for Xbox 360 on October 23. The game is in development at United Kingdom-based startup Playground Games. The new company has not yet shipped a game, but it has a formidable racing pedigree.

Founded by former Codemasters (F1 series) alums, Playground Games is staffed also by veterans from now-defunct studios Black Rock and Bizarre Creations. Those two studios created Split/Second and Blur, respectively, before being shut down.