Update: Co-founder and Creative Director Mike Brown has since responded on X, saying: A few people sharing condolences about this – please do not. We are as good as we’ve ever been and are getting ready to share the game with you later in the year.”
More details will be shared in an upcoming developer podcast.
Original story: Maverick Games’ upcoming open-world driving game will no longer be published by Amazon Studios.
Formed in 2022 by industry veterans from Playground Games, Electronic Arts and Sumo Digital, including Forza Horizon 5’s former Creative Director Mike Brown, the studio is currently working on a AAA open-world, narrative-led driving game.
First reported by The Game Business, the unannounced title was due to be published by Amazon Game Studios, but this is no longer the case.
Maverick Games’ debut title remains in development as the company seeks a new publisher. It’s set to release on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, with Skins co-creator Jamie Brittain as lead writer.
While the open-world driving game has yet to be unveiled, the studio will share more details “later this year.”
“We’re grateful to Amazon Games for their partnership and collaboration,” Maverick Games COO and Co-Founder Harinder Sangha said in a statement to Traxion.
“Development of our debut title continues to progress as strongly as planned. We’re in active dialogue with partners who share our long-term ambition for the IP and look forward to sharing more later this year.”
An Amazon Game Studios spokesperson added: “As part of our strategic evolution to focus on projects that leverage Amazon’s unique strengths and scale, including the recent re-launch of Luna and our Tomb Raider franchise partnership with Crystal Dynamics, we have decided to release Maverick Games from their publishing agreement with Amazon Game Studios.”
“We have tremendous respect for the Maverick Games team and the compelling narrative-led driving experience they’re creating. This decision allows Maverick Games the flexibility to find a publishing partner whose strategic priorities are better aligned with bringing their game to market. We’re proud of what we accomplished together during our partnership and wish them every success in the future.”
Maverick Games parting ways with Amazon Game Studios comes after the publisher cancelled platformer King of Meat by former Lionhead developers this month and pulled the MMO New World from sale in January.
The company will still publish two upcoming Tomb Raider projects: Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis (a remake of the original 1996 game) and Tomb Raider Catalyst, a new entry set to release in 2027.
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