Speaking openly on the Turn 10 blog, creative director Dan Greenawalt has expressed his frustration with Electronic Arts and disappointment that the Porsche brand will not feature in its upcoming racer Forza Motorsport 4.

Despite collaborating with Turn 10 for Forza 3, which featured over 35 Porsche models, EA, who owns the exclusively licensing deal with the Porsche brand, has apparently refused to sign up with them again; much to the frustration of the Forza developer.

Greenawalt has used the Turn 10 blog to issue an apology to fans of Forza 4 and explain the situation in some depth.

"This kills me,” says Greenawalt. “While Forza Motorsport 4 will feature RUF, it will not include Porsche cars. As many of you know, since the beginning of the Forza franchise, the Porsche license has been available only through a sub-licensing deal with EA.”

"In Forza 3, we were able to feature more than 35 different Porsche models by offering to collaborate with EA. For Forza 4, we were looking forward to adding even more Porsche cars, and we were especially looking forward to featuring multiple Porsche experiences in our new Autovista mode. In the end, however, EA couldn't see their way towards collaborating again.”

Turn 10 has apparently tried everything to get EA to change its mind.

"We've asked our contacts at EA to reconsider their position frequently and regularly over the last 18 months,” says Greenawalt. “We also reached out to various influential people in gaming to lobby on our behalf, and on your behalf, but that was to no avail.

"In our business, we stay friendly with all of the manufacturers and licensors necessary to deliver players rich and innovative automotive experiences. As you'd expect, this includes quite a few key people in Porsche circles.”

"To make sure we tried everything, we consulted with these advocates and were happy to find they were already aware of the situation and lobbying from within on behalf of Forza 4--and, despite the result, we thank them for their efforts.

"While we respect EA's need to run their business as they see fit, we've regularly collaborated in the past and hope we can find our way back to that approach.”

Greenawalt concludes his bloggin rant with an apology to fans, stating that “you should just be able to drive Porsches and Ferraris in the games you love. Porsche makes wonderful cars and I'm sorry that we won't have them in Forza 4.” However, he has confirmed the existence of three RUF cars, which he says will be of a very high standard.

"Losing more than 35 Porsche models is a lost opportunity for Porsche fans (as well as a lost opportunity to make future Porsche fans), but I hope that Forza 4 players understand and enjoy the new makes and models that have taken their place," says Greenawalt.

Greenawalt hasn't ruled out future collaborations with EA and the Porsche brand, but it's not looking great. Either way, it would be good to hear EA's side of the story because there could be more to this than first meets the eye.

Forza Motorsport 4 launches on Xbox 360 in Europe on October 14, 2011.

Source: Forza Motorsport.net