Forza Horizon Rival Seeks New Publisher After Amazon Deal Falls Through

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Amazon has decided to stop publishing the open-world driving game being developed by Maverick Games, a game that was intended to compete with Forza Horizon. This decision highlights Amazon’s reduced focus on video games and leaves the studio, which was founded by ex-Forza Horizon developers, looking for a different company to publish their game.

Maverick Games, a studio formed in 2022 by former employees of Playground Games and SEGA Hardlight (including Tom Butcher, Michael Brown, and Harinder Sangha), is developing a new open-world racing game for PC and current consoles. Amazon will publish the game, which aims to compete with titles like Forza Horizon. As of October 2025, Amazon and Maverick Games were still working together on the project, which currently doesn’t have a title.

Maverick and Amazon’s Deal Falls Through After 2 Years

Maverick and Amazon ended their partnership in early 2026. Amazon stated the decision was a strategic shift, allowing them to concentrate on projects where they can best utilize their resources and size. They pointed to the recently announced Tomb Raider games, which Amazon is publishing, as an example. According to Amazon, they ended the publishing agreement with Maverick on their own initiative.

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Maverick’s Debut Title May Have a New Publisher by the End of 2026

Amazon has allowed Maverick Studios to end their publishing agreement, giving the studio more freedom to find a partner who can best release their racing game. Maverick confirmed the split online, stating that development is still moving forward despite the change. The studio told The Game Business they are actively talking to potential partners about publishing, and expect to share more news later this year. It’s not yet clear if this means they’ll announce a new publishing deal before the end of 2026, or if they’re simply planning to share more about the game to attract a publisher.

Maverick Games, Amazon Games

Maverick, a game studio created by seasoned industry professionals, could improve its negotiating power by showing potential partners that there’s excitement for its upcoming racing game. The open-world racing game has been in development for around three years as of February 2026, but it’s unknown how much of that time was dedicated to actual production. It’s also uncertain if losing its previous publisher will push back the game’s release date. Maverick claims development is ongoing, but the details of its past deal with Amazon haven’t been revealed. If Amazon provided funding, the studio might need to reduce costs while searching for a new partner, which could further delay the game.

Maverick Is Still Hiring for Its Mysterious Racing Game

Despite recent difficulties with its publisher, Maverick Studios is still looking to expand its team. Their website currently advertises multiple job openings, including a one-year contract for a technical animator and a full-time role for a vehicle handling designer. They are also accepting applications from people interested in future opportunities. As of early 2026, Maverick had less than 50 employees, and while many game studios use outside help, it’s not clear how much Maverick relies on external partners.

Currently, Maverick’s first game might be released on both the current and next generations of consoles, despite initially being planned for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Before the company split, Maverick posted on social media in late January 2026 to praise Playground Games’ announcement of Forza Horizon 6, playfully calling them “big bro” and saying the game looked fantastic.

Sources: Maverick Games, Maverick Games / Twitter

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2026-02-26 17:06