Because Forza Horizon 2 backward compatibility on Xbox Series X/S keeps interest alive, these fake “key” files re-emerge whenever the game is mentioned in gaming news.

Note that the actual license key will vary depending on the game and the platform.

: Forza Horizon 2 was officially delisted from digital stores on October 1, 2018, and its online servers were shut down on August 22, 2023. Legitimate digital keys are no longer being generated or sold.

was never officially released for PC, "PC license keys" offered in this format are often bundled with malware. Delisting & Availability Forza Horizon 2 was delisted from the Microsoft Store October 1, 2018

Inside was the legendary License Key.txt . But when users tried to open it, they didn't find a code. Instead, they found a wall of garbled wingdings or, more commonly, a single line of text:

A new character had joined the race.