Katarzyna Petru
Amazon Games unexpectedly withdrew from the publishing agreement with Maverick Games. The team, founded by Mike Brown, the former creative director of Forza Horizon 5, is working on an ambitious, narrative open-world racing game. However, the project has not been cancelled. Amazon's decision means that the studio must now find a new publisher to help bring the production to market.
End of collaboration, 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 attracted significant interest from the outset – not only due to the open world and narrative nature of the gameplay but primarily because of the name Mike Brown, one of the architects behind the success of Forza Horizon 5. Amazon emphasised in an official statement that the decision stems from 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 intended to give the studio greater freedom in finding a partner better suited to the game's release.
What next for the narrative racing game?
The most important thing: production is still ongoing. Amazon has not cancelled the project, but has merely withdrawn from its role as publisher. This means the team can continue their work and engage in discussions with other companies. However, the situation is challenging. Finding a new publisher for a major AAA game in the current market climate is not easy. On the other hand, Brown's name and the team's experience could be a strong argument in negotiations. If the project is indeed meant to combine high-budget production with a narrative approach to racing, it may attract the attention of larger industry players.
Amazon Games is shifting priorities and is pulling back from collaboration with Maverick Games, but the racing game itself is not being shelved. 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
