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, narrative-driven open-world racing game. The project, however, has not been canceled. Amazon's decision means that the studio now needs to find a new publisher to help bring the production to market.
End of cooperation, but not the end of the game
Maverick Games was founded in 2022, and the partnership with Amazon Games was announced in May 2024. The project has sparked significant interest from the outset – not only due to its open world and narrative gameplay, but primarily because of the name Mike Brown, one of the architects of the success of Forza Horizon 5. In an official statement, Amazon emphasized 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 agreement," which is expected to give the studio greater freedom in finding a partner better suited for the game's release.
What’s next for the story-based racing game?
The most important thing: production is still underway. Amazon has not canceled the project; it has only stepped back from its role as publisher. This means the team can continue their work and hold discussions with other companies. However, the situation is challenging. Finding a new publisher for a large 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 visuals with a storytelling approach to racing, it could attract the attention of bigger industry players.
Amazon Games is changing its priorities and is stepping back from cooperation with Maverick Games, but the racing game itself is not 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
