A free Forza Motorsport game is coming to Windows 10 PCs this spring

Microsoft is planning to launch a free Forza game on Windows 10 this spring. Forza Motorsport 6: Apex will debut in the Windows Store as a slimmed down free-to-play version of the racing game available on the Xbox One. It's part of a broader effort by Microsoft to invest heavily in PC gaming, and push consumers to upgrade to Windows 10. "We are 100 percent committed to the PC-gaming space," says Phil Spencer, Microsoft's Xbox chief, in an interview with The Seattle Times. "That is a long-term commitment from us."

According to Microsoft, the new Forza is designed for players new to the franchise, and it will feature a total of 63 cars will available across six locations and 20 tracks. There will be a standard, 12-event career mode, as well as what Microsoft describes as a "new objective and scoring system" that lets you compare progress and achievements with friends. Apex will also include traditional Forza features like the Drivatar system, which bases the in-game AI on how your friends drive. Microsoft is planning to support in-game purchases, and all cars and locations can be unlocked by playing the game, so you won't be forced into spending money.

Forza isn't the only big franchise that Microsoft is using to lure Xbox gamers: the company is also providing a free PC version of Quantum Break with Xbox One preorders, available from the Windows Store on Windows 10.