'Forza Horizon 2' image stokes Windows 10 speculation

An image shown during Microsoft's Windows 10 briefing appears to imply that Xbox exclusive "Forza Horizon 2" may eventually be made available on other Windows devices.

An image shown during Microsoft's Windows 10 briefing appears to imply that Xbox exclusive 'Forza Horizon 2' may eventually be made available on other Windows devices.

The snapshot formed part of an illustration that demonstrates the versatility of Windows 10 across smartphones, tablets, laptops, desktops, console and big screen environments.

Representing the Xbox One's contribution to the Windows 10 family was a screen whose dashboard tiles showed 'Minecraft' and Skype (both owned by Windows producer Microsoft), 'Ori and the Blind Forest' (to be published on Xbox One, Windows and Xbox 360 by Microsoft Studios) and apps for Netflix and NFL On Xbox.

But perhaps most intriguing of all was the cover art for this week's critically acclaimed racing game 'Forza Horizon 2,' which is fast becoming an Xbox One tentpole, and a tempting reason to upgrade for those on the fence.

And 'One product family, One platform, One store' was the image's accompanying mantra, though users of iTunes and Google Play will know that there are ways of preventing visitors from purchasing apps they can't run on the device in question; it's reasonable to expect the Windows 10 Store to pack the same functionality, if needed.

At the same time, the Xbox One is now much closer to PC architecture than its forebears (as is the PlayStation 4). Theoretically, at least, the possibility of 'Forza Horizon 2' on PC remains alive, even if it turns out to be miles away from Microsoft's traditional strategy.

What's for sure is that the Xbox One will receive its first major dashboard update before very long, as Microsoft looks to introduce the Windows 10 experience in 2015.

'Windows 10 will run across an incredibly broad set of devices,' wrote Executive VP Terry Myerson on the Windows blog. 'We're talking about one product family, with a tailored experience for each device.'