Maverick Games, a United Kingdom-based studio founded in 2022 by former Forza Horizon creative director Mike Brown, is seeking a new publisher for its open-world racing title. The studio had been developing the game under a publishing agreement with Amazon Games, but that partnership has now ended. Maverick remains in active dialogue with prospective new publishing partners, and the untitled game continues in development.
Mike Brown established Maverick Games after his tenure at Playground Games, where he served as creative director for the Horizon series. He successfully recruited several ex-Playground Games veterans to join the new venture following its founding. Shortly after the studio’s formation, Brown outlined his ambitions for the debut project to GamesIndustry.Biz. He stated his intent to create a AAA, premium game designed with the ultimate goal of “winning all the awards,” highlighting the studio’s focus on high-quality production values.
Amazon Games Studios confirmed the decision to terminate the publishing agreement in a statement provided to The Game Business. A company representative explained that the move aligns with a strategic evolution intended to focus on projects that leverage Amazon’s unique strengths and scale. The representative specifically cited the recent re-launch of the Luna streaming service and the Tomb Raider franchise partnership with Crystal Dynamics as priorities influencing this shift.
The statement from Amazon Games expressed continued respect for the Maverick Games team and the development of their “compelling narrative-led driving experience.” The publisher noted that releasing Maverick from the agreement allows the studio the flexibility to find a partner whose strategic priorities are better aligned with bringing the specific game to market. Amazon stated it is proud of the accomplishments achieved during the partnership and wished Maverick success moving forward.
Amazon’s history in the gaming sector has produced mixed results. The company’s free-to-play shooter Crucible, released in 2020, was shut down quickly, leading to limited public awareness of its existence. The MMO New World achieved more commercial success, yet Amazon is currently winding down support for the title next year. The status of the company’s Lord of the Rings MMO remains unclear following cuts to the MMO division that affected that team.
Additional recent developments include the announced closure of King of Meat, a co-op dungeon crawler published by Amazon Games. The game, which launched in October 2025, is scheduled to shut down on April 9, less than a year after its release. Despite these changes, Amazon retains two Tomb Raider games on its release slate. This lineup includes a reimagining of the original 1996 game, alongside the previously announced partnership with Crystal Dynamics.
