Amazon abandons open-world racing game by former Forza Horizon devs

Engadget

by Matt Tate

February 25, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

Amazon has terminated its publishing partnership with Maverick Games, an independent studio founded by former Forza Horizon developers. The decision marks a significant shift in Amazon's gaming strategy, as they focus on projects that align with their unique strengths, such as the relaunch of Luna and collaborations like the Tomb Raider franchise. Maverick Games, led by Mike Brown, who previously served as creative director for Forza Horizon at Playground Games, had aimed to create an AAA, award-winning open-world racing game. The studio is now actively seeking new publishing partners to bring their debut title to market. This move reflects Amazon's broader strategic evolution in gaming. While they have seen success with titles like New World and are committed to expanding their Luna streaming service, other ventures, such as the multiplayer shooter Crucible, have underperformed. Amazon’s decision to part ways with Maverick Games comes amid challenges in their MMO division, including delays and staff cuts affecting projects like the Lord of the Rings MMO. Additionally, co-op dungeon crawler King of Meat was recently shut down less than a year after its launch. The implications of

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Originally published on Engadget on 2/25/2026