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Yes. Microsoft announced the free-to-download-at-the-time Forza Horizon 3 demo for Windows 10 PC on November 3, 2016. That same day, the separate Xbox One demo received an HDR update for Xbox One S when played on an HDR display. The announcement records historical availability; it does not establish that the demo can still be downloaded today.
What arrived on Windows 10, and what changed on Xbox One?
The November 3 announcement covered two different platform updates. The Windows 10 PC version was a new demo release in the Windows Store, available without additional charge at the time. The Xbox One version was not a new demo release that day: its demo had launched on September 12, and the November update added HDR support for Xbox One S with an HDR display.
| Platform | What happened | Date and qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Windows 10 PC | The demo became available in the Windows Store without additional charge. | November 3, 2016; this establishes historical, not present-day, availability. Windows Experience Blog |
| Xbox One | The existing demo received an HDR update. | November 3, 2016; the announcement specified Xbox One S and an HDR display. Xbox Wire |
| Xbox One | The demo first launched. | September 12, 2016. Xbox Wire |
What could you do in the PC demo?
The Windows 10 demo offered a guided introduction through part of the game’s Australian map, rather than the full game. Microsoft’s announcement described a sample of the open-world setting; it did not claim that the entire map or full game content was included. Windows Experience Blog
The earlier Xbox One demo likewise featured a portion of Australia, with demo events followed by online free-roam. Its listed vehicles included the Lamborghini Centenario, BMW M4 Coupe, Ford Shelby GT350R and 2014 HSV Limited Edition GEN-F GTS Maloo, as well as dune buggies and a trophy truck. These details describe the Xbox One demo announced in September, not a guarantee that every vehicle or activity appeared in the PC demo. Xbox Wire
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What PC specifications did Microsoft publish?
Xbox Wire published the following Windows 10 demo requirements on November 3, 2016. The performance targets were Microsoft’s stated estimates for each tier, not independent benchmark results or refreshed guidance for current PCs. Every tier listed Windows 10 Anniversary Edition 64-bit, version 14393.102, and 21 GB of free storage.
| Tier | CPU | Graphics and VRAM | RAM | Stated target |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum | Intel i5-3570 at 3.4 GHz | NVIDIA GT 750 Ti or AMD R7 250X; 2 GB VRAM | 8 GB | 720p at 30 fps |
| Recommended | Intel i7-3820 at 3.6 GHz | NVIDIA GTX 970, GTX 1060, or AMD R9 290X/RX 480; 4 GB VRAM | 12 GB | 1080p at 30 fps |
| Ideal | Intel i7-6700 at 4.0 GHz | NVIDIA GTX 980 Ti, GTX 1080, or AMD Fury X; 6 GB VRAM | 16 GB | 4K at 30 fps |
All listed OS, hardware, storage and target figures come from Xbox Wire’s November 3, 2016 announcement. They describe the demo’s published requirements at release, not current compatibility with modern Windows versions or hardware. Xbox Wire: demo update and PC specifications
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Does the HDR claim apply to the PC demo?
No. The November 3, 2016 HDR update was for the Xbox One demo, with Xbox One S and an HDR display specified as requirements for the announced support. It should not be described as an HDR update to the Windows 10 PC demo. The Xbox product listing also describes HDR support for the full game on supported Xbox One S/X TVs; that product-page statement concerns the full game and does not change the platform scope of the 2016 demo update. Xbox Wire · Xbox product listing
How does the demo fit the full game’s release?
Forza Horizon 3 launched on Xbox One and Windows 10 PC on September 27, 2016; Xbox Wire said Japan availability would follow on September 29. The November PC demo release therefore came after the full game’s launch. The official product listing identifies Xbox Play Anywhere and describes the full game’s HDR support on compatible Xbox One S/X TVs. Xbox Wire launch announcement · Xbox product listing
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Can you still download the demo?
The cited November 2016 announcement proves that the Windows 10 demo was available in the Windows Store then, and that the Xbox One demo had launched in September. Those historical announcements do not establish current storefront availability. The current Xbox product listing cited here is for the full game, not confirmation that either demo remains downloadable.
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