Katarzyna Petru
Amazon Games unexpectedly withdrew from its publishing agreement with Maverick Games. The team, founded by Mike Brown, former creative director of Forza Horizon 5, is working on an ambitious open-world narrative racing game. However, the project has not been cancelled. Amazon's decision means that the studio now has to find a new publisher to help bring the production to market.
End of the partnership, but not the end of the game
Maverick Games was established in 2022, and the partnership with Amazon Games was announced in May 2024. The project has generated significant interest from the beginning – not only because of the open world and narrative gameplay, but primarily due to the name Mike Brown, one of the architects of the success of Forza Horizon 5. Amazon, in an official statement, emphasised that the decision is a result of the company's "strategic evolution." The publisher now wants to focus on projects related to its own ecosystem, including the development of the Luna platform and collaboration on the Tomb Raider brand. Maverick Games has been "released from the contract," which is expected to give the studio more freedom in finding a partner better suited for the game's launch.
What's next for the narrative racer?
The main thing: the production is still happening. Amazon hasn't cancelled the project, but has merely stepped back from its role as publisher. This means the team can continue their work and engage in discussions with other companies. The situation is, however, challenging. Finding a new publisher for a large AAA game in the current market climate isn't easy. On the other hand, Brown's name and the team's experience could be strong bargaining chips in negotiations. If the project is indeed set to combine high-budget production with a narrative approach to racing, it may attract the attention of larger players in the industry.
Amazon Games is changing its priorities and is stepping back from collaboration with Maverick Games, but the racing game itself isn't being scrapped. The studio faces the challenge of finding a new publisher to help bring the project to release. The coming months will show whether the ambitious racer from the creator of Forza Horizon 5 can maintain its development pace.
Source: ppe.pl, news.instant-gaming.com
